District Court judge slams uncle’s actions in causing the death of his six-year-old nephew

The tragic death of a six-year-old boy who was not properly restrained in a family member’s vehicle has shattered his family and served as an untimely reminder why children must be properly restrained.

Jessie Jade Dennis has been jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of Riley Wells.

The tragic death of a loved six-year-old Queensland boy is a timely reminder to adequately restrain children in vehicles.

Riley Wells was travelling back to Roma with his uncle Jessie Jade Dennis and Dennis’s partner in a single cab ute on January 6, 2022, restrained only by a lap sash seatbelt. 

Judge Dennis Lynch labelled the heartbreaking death as “a foreseeable tragedy which could have been avoided” while handing down Dennis’ sentence in Toowoomba District Court.

“You drove the vehicle with Riley in it, in circumstances which you knew that he was not properly restrained and ultimately that’s what led to this tragedy,” Judge Lynch said.

“Your driving of this vehicle is also evidence of your preparedness to take such risks, as it was defective and although it was not the cause of the crash, you were driving a vehicle which you knew had no rear brakes at all.”

Shanowahh Dennis and Ian Wells spoke about their son Riley Wells outside Toowoomba Courthouse after Jessie Jade Dennis was jailed on June 9 for dangerous driving causing death.

The devastating incident has left a South West Queensland family shattered, with Dennis sentenced to three-year imprisonment, suspended after eight months.

Queensland road safety data reported 37 lives were lost and 200 were injured each year due to being unrestrained in a vehicle.

Toowoomba Highway Patrol officer-in-charge senior sergeant Kim Hill said, while not commenting on this specific court case, the human body was not designed to be flung from a vehicle in a high-speed crash.

“It’s really important for adults to remember that children under seven must have their seatbelt properly fitted when sitting in the front seat and this means considering whether the child could slide out,” Snr Sgt Hill said.

Darling Downs Road Policing Unit officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Kim Hill says wearing a seatbelt will save your life. Picture: Kevin Farmer

While the legislation outlines children of any age may sit in the front seat of a vehicle with one row of seats, it further states they must be properly restrained.

Children aged between four and seven must be in an approved child restraint that is either forward facing with a built-in harness or an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap sash seatbelt.

Further Transport and Main Roads data has revealed five per cent of Queenslanders drive on public roads without wearing a seatbelt, making you nine per cent more likely to die in a crash from not wearing a seatbelt.

Snr Sgt Hill said a common excuse highway patrol officers heard when they stopped a vehicle and found a child unrestrained was “they’ve just unlicked it”.

“Children can do those types of things, so it’s really important to engage them at a young age and get them used to wearing a seatbelt,” she said.

“It’s a regular habit for us as adults and we need to work with children to educate them.”

Drivers can face a hefty fine of more than $1000 and the loss of four demerit points for any unrestrained passengers in the vehicle.

“Get that seatbelt on, it will save your life.”