UPDATE DEC 2021
Chris Hyslop has been jailed for nine and a half years after the 37-year-old pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death of bike rider Deborah Locco in Beaumaris last May.
Judge Elizabeth Brimer said the vision showed a "callousness that is difficult to fathom".
"The dashcam footage shows you accelerating to get away.
"Ms Locco's death is solely attributable to your actions in driving your car while impaired by fatigue to a significant degree", Judge Brimer said during the setencing.
Mr Hyslop will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least six years and nine months.
While this verdict provides some closure and justice for one of the most disgraceful criminal behaviours from a person driving a vehicle, with the most horrific consequences — sadly no penalty will make up for the loss of Deborah Locca and the pain suffered by her loved ones. On behalf of the wider bike riding community, Bicycle Network would like to extend our deepest support and sympathies to everyone impacted.
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NOV 2021
Christopher Hyslop, who hit and killed a bike rider last year on Beach Road, has pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, failing to stop after an accident and driving while disqualified in Melbourne County Court this week.
Deborah Locca, 60, was a beloved mother, highly respected school principal at South Oakleigh College and passionate bike rider, who was riding in the bike lane along Beach Road in Beaumaris when she was fatality struck from behind.
Her son David told the court he had shared his mother's passion for cycling, but could no longer ride or walk the routes they used to take, as both caused him to become overwhelmed with grief.
“The night of the crime I had to drive along Beach Road looking for someone who never returned home. That is something nobody should ever have to endure,” Mr Locco said.
The court heard Hyslop, a father-of-three, was disqualified from driving and had barely slept in days when he struck Ms Locco on her Sunday afternoon bike ride.
Hyslop’s lawyer, Tim Marsh, said the 37-year-old had no memory of the crash as it was likely he was asleep when he veered into the bike lane.
Dashcam footage showed Hyslop veering into oncoming traffic numerous times before the crash, and drug tests showed methamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis in his blood.
Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said his driving was impaired by fatigue after days of drug use and little rest, and a sleep expert estimated Hyslop’s impairment as the equivalent of a high range drink driver.
Mr Marsh said Hyslop “must have been... extremely fatigued” following his “fairly significant drug bender”, and conceded Hyslop faced a substantial jail term for his serious offending.
Hyslop failed to stop after hitting Ms Locco, and the court heard he had repeatedly said: “I hit him, I hit him. We gotta get out of here,” before pulling over in a side street and abandoning the car and his two passengers.
Churchill concluded that Hyslop was “self centred”, lacked remorse and that leaving the crash showed “a high degree of callousness”.
Judge Elizabeth Brimer will sentence Hyslop at a later date.
This Sunday is World Day Of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims – our thoughts will be with Deborah's loved ones and all others who have lost their lives on our roads.
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