A man will spend at least 16 months in jail for his part in a collision that seriously injured a couple at Altona Beach in 2015.
Hoppers Crossing man Daryn Harvey, 48, pleaded guilty in the County Court to charges of negligently causing serious injury and failing to stop and render assistance after an accident.
He was sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail with a minimum of 16 months.
The court heard about 9pm on February 19, 2015, Harvey had been driving a white Hyundai SUV with a passenger, Tarek El Houli, when his car was involved in a collision with a white Mitsubishi ute driven by Altona Meadows man Samir Haddara.
Two pedestrians, Michael and Doris Xerri, were struck by the ute and suffered serious injuries.
The court heard both cars had driven from the Point Cook Road/Central Avenue roundabout at Point Cook, along Queen Street and then Maidstone Street to The Esplanade at Altona.
County Court Judge Claire Quin said Harvey believed he was “under imminent threat of death or serious injury from a member of or people connected to the Haddara family”.
“You became friendly with members of the El Houli family and because of that connection became embroiled in a familial dispute between them and the Haddara family,” she said.
Both vehicles were observed by witnesses being driven on the wrong side of the Esplanade at an estimated 90-100km/h.
Near Millers Road, Harvey’s vehicle hit the rear of the ute causing the ute to veer right and cut across the footpath next to the seawall.
“As the ute crossed over the footpath, it collided with Mr and Mrs Xerri, narrowly missing their adult daughter, Jessica,” Ms Quin said.
“The impact propelled them over the retaining wall and onto the beach. The ute landed on its roof on the beach.”
Passers-by assisted Mr and Mrs Xerri, while four people crawled out of the ute’s windows, seemingly uninjured.
Harvey drove onto a nature strip at the corner of the Esplanade and Millers Road before taking off along Millers Road.
Mrs Xerri, in her late 50s, suffered a fractured pelvis, fractures to her lower spine and internal bleeding. Her husband received fractures to his lower limbs and internal bleeding.
They were treated at The Alfred hospital before being taken to Epworth Rehabilitation, where they remained until May, 2015.
