A driver has been jailed after his ute ran a red light, hit a turning car and spun onto a Launceston footpath, killing one man and seriously injuring another.
Ryan Murfett, 26, was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Monday to three and a half years in prison.
He had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving. He was originally charged with manslaughter.
Kane Morgan was killed in the crash in central Launceston on October 12, 2023.
The court heard Murfett was driving his ute north along Margaret Street around 9:20pm. A witness estimated he reached 90 to 100km/h in a 50km/h zone.
His headlights were working but were not switched on.
Justice Robert Pearce said Murfett drove into the Frederick Street intersection against a red light, without braking and while still accelerating.
He hit a car that was lawfully turning right, sending his ute spinning into a traffic light pole and onto the footpath.
The ute struck Morgan and another man standing there. Morgan died at the scene from head injuries.
The court heard the second man spent almost two months in hospital with broken limbs, a ruptured blood vessel, pneumonia and blood clots. His injuries will permanently affect him.
Justice Pearce said Murfett’s speed and acceleration were “obviously excessive” and his driving was “very dangerous”.
He noted Murfett was not affected by alcohol or drugs and was not trying to evade police.
The judge also pointed to Murfett’s poor driving record, which included three speeding fines and a red light offence in the months before the crash.
Murfett also pleaded guilty to 12 vehicle standards breaches, including unsecured brake lines and oversized tyres.
Justice Pearce found none of the defects caused the crash. He said they gave some indication of Murfett’s attitude to road safety at the time.
The judge accepted Murfett was sorry and had good prospects of rehabilitation.
“No sentence of whatever length can undo or make up for the harm which has been done,” Justice Pearce said.
Murfett must serve half his sentence before he is eligible for parole. His sentence started on October 15, when he was remanded in custody.
He has been disqualified from driving for two years from his release.
