Bahal Singh Chahal sentenced after colliding with four-year-old cyclist in Adelaide’s south

A taxi driver who hit a four-year-old boy riding his bike during a tragic lapse in care has avoided jail for the “tragic” mistake.

A “terribly emotional” taxi driver who collided with a four-year-old cyclist in Adelaide’s south has been spared jail time after making a “tragic” mistake, a court has heard.

Bahal Singh Chahal, 52, pleaded guilty to aggravated due care after leaving a young boy with broken ribs, a broken collarbone, ligament damage to the neck and a number of cuts and bruises across his body.

By entering a guilty plea to the lesser charge of due care, prosecutors withdrew one count of cause serious harm by careless use of a vehicle.

Chahal leaving court last year. Picture: Charlie Dadds

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week, in front of Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal, Tim McGrath, for Chahal, said his client was “deeply upset” by the offending.

“Any one of us as human beings can make an error – it’s tragic,” Mr McGrath said.

“This could happen to anyone. We’re dealing with a man who is terribly emotional about this whole matter.

“He wishes that family (the victim’s) every positive outcome they could have in life. The price he’s paid is incomparable to that of the father’s, and his son’s.”

Emergency services were called to the scene on South Tce, outside Plympton Park Oval, about 10.40am on July 28 after reports a child had been hit by a car.

The child had to be removed from under the vehicle. Picture: Ben Clark

Chahal watches on as police conduct their investigation at the scene. Picture: Ben Clark

Chahal was the driver of a taxi – with two passengers inside – that made a right-hand turn on to Macklin St before it collided with the four-year-old.

Home security footage of the alleged incident showed the boy’s father riding his bike across the street – with his son a short distance behind before he was struck.

The footage shows the boy’s father then run to the scene and check on the child – who was knocked from his bike.

The boy was taken to hospital where he was treated for serious, but not-life-threatening injuries. On Wednesday, the court heard he spent eight days in hospital and was absent from kindergarten for two months.

Last year, Chahal told the court he “strongly” contested the allegations, and was prepared for the matter to go “all the way” to trial. On Wednesday, however, he entered guilty pleas.

Judge Hribal imposed a fine of $2100 and ordered Chahal’s licence be disqualified for 41 days.

Originally published as Bahal Singh Chahal sentenced after colliding with four-year-old cyclist in Adelaide’s south