Anthony West Wiki
Anthony West Biography
Anthony West’s wife, Jessica, 37, and their five-year-old son Deighton, died after their Toyota Wagon was struck by a semi-trailer near Ballarat, Victoria, on December 29, 2019.
Truck driver Michael Knowler, 60, did not see a yield sign at an intersection because he was looking at Google Maps directions on his phone, a court was told.
Ms West and Deighton died after a truck driver missed a giveway sign
Prosecutor Sharn Coombes described the harrowing moment when West realized that his youngest son had died.
“ She knew right away that her son had not survived and collapsed to the ground and banged on the door before hearing her son Oakley cry, ” Ms. Coombes said at the pre-sentencing hearing in Victoria County court. Monday, the Herald Sun reported.
“Hearing Oakley cry and murmur was the only thing that made him not want to die right there,” West told the court.
In a victim impact statement to the court, Bendigo’s father said his wife’s screaming was the last he heard her say.
“The scream lives with me every day,” he said.
Bendigo’s father and his nine-year-old son Oakley survived the accident that overturned their car nearly five times.
Oakley suffered a head injury and spent four weeks at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
“I felt guilty that I survived (the accident),” Anthony told the court, according to 7 News.
“I still feel responsible … I wish I could trade my life for theirs.”
He also revealed how painful it had been to clean his son Deighton’s room with unopened Christmas presents.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” he said.
Mr West and his 9-year-old son Oakley were sitting in the front of the vehicle
West said he felt guilty for surviving the accident that claimed the lives of his wife and son, a teacher, who was about to start elementary school.
“I still feel responsible … I wish I could trade my life for theirs,” 7News reported.
Knowler from Western Australia had a perfect driving record and was not affected by drugs or alcohol at the time.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving that caused death and one count of dangerous driving that caused serious injury.
He is on remand until defense attorney and sentencing Chris Pearson said he was facing deportation to New Zealand when he was released from jail.
