Thomas Rowlands had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death

A judge has described the death of a young Tasmanian man in an ATV joyride as “completely avoidable”. His friend who plead guilty to dangerous driving causing death has been sentenced.

A YOUNG man will spend at least 18 months behind bars for causing the death of his friend in an all terrain vehicle crash at Ouse.

Derwent Valley man, Thomas Rowlands, 26, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after a crash which resulted in the death of Hayden Kennedy.

On October 31, 2021, Mr Rowlands and Mr Kennedy had been at a small birthday gathering with friends at Ouse and had taken a friend’s new Polaris buggy for a spin at 1am.

Mr Rowlands had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel of the unregistered vehicle.

The pair had been travelling on a gravel forestry road when Rowlands lost control of the buggy while attempting to negotiate a left-hand curve.

The buggy rolled and crashed into a tree stump.

Mr Kennedy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police investigations indicated the buggy was travelling at 96km/h in an 80km/h zone.

Hayden Kennedy with his girlfriend Isobel Hodge. Photo: Facebook

During sentencing in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Tuesday, Justice Michael Brett said Mr Kennedy’s death had devastated his loved ones.

“I have heard impact statements from his partner and parents. Each has eloquently described the grief, shock and enormous sense of loss resulting from Mr Kennedy’s death. This impact is profound and permanent. I have no doubt that his loss will also significantly impact the lives of many others,” Justice Brett said.

When imposing a sentence, Justice Brett took into account Rowlands’ significant remorse, early guilty plea and good character.

“Despite these positive aspects of your character and background, ultimately, I regard your conduct as a serious example of this crime,” he said.

Hayden Kennedy has been remembered as a driven young man who loved fishing, shooting and playing footy.

“It is frequently the case that driving such as this, particularly by persons who have consumed too much alcohol, ends with death or serious injury. This entire episode and its terrible consequences were completely unnecessary and avoidable.”

Rowlands was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

He will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and fined $400 for driving an unregistered vehicle.