By Callum Ludwig
25-year-old Uber driver and student Anmoldeep Singh has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for dangerous driving in Wandin North that caused the death of 89-year-old Lewis Carnegie and serious injury to his brother Peter in February 2023.
Mr Singh, who had pled guilty in the County Court of Victoria, apologised to the family of Mr Carnegie, including his daughter Ann O’Connor and her husband who attended the sentencing, as well his Mr Carnegie’s grandaughter Jorja O’Connor, who was driving her grandfather and great-uncle when Mr Singh struck them with his Toyota Corolla.
Judge Frances Hogan said there was ‘no explanation’ other than that Mr Singh ‘did not look or pay attention’ when he failed to stop at the intersection of Wellington Road and Clegg Road at about 3.55 on 11 February 2023.
Mr Singh was transporting two Uber passengers Jessica Henning and Justin King to a wedding only a short distance away and was travelling at a speed of between 42-44km/h through the intersection when he struck Jorja O’Connor’s car, which was travelling at a speed of between 52 and 57km/h on Clegg Road, causing it to rotate, roll and then hit an embankment.
Judge Hogan said she didn’t think she’d seen an intersection with ‘so many advance warnings and markings’.
At 160m from the intersection at the time of the incident, was a sign warning motorists of the presence of pedestrians, cyclists and horses. At 134m are signs on both sides informing drivers of upcoming rumble strips, with those strips starting at 111m from the intersection.
Prepare to stop signs can be found 85m from the intersection, with more rumble strips 42m away and then a visible stop sign 6.7m from the solid line intersection.
Ms Singh told his psychologist after the accident that he was aware the road was notorious for incidents but ‘never thought he’d be one of them’.
At the scene, he was heard telling police ‘I’m sorry, please tell them I’m sorry’ and asking if the passengers were ok.
Less than three hours after the crash Lewis Carnegie died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital having suffered a crush injury to his pelvis while Peter suffered lacerations to his head and neck, multiple fractures, required an IV drip and a blood transfusion and upon discharge 10 days later, was still suffering from amnesia as a result of the crash.
Mr Singh’s passenger Mr King said expected Mr Singh to slow down and stop as they approached the intersection, while Ms Henning put her hand up with palm out in anticipation of the crash after realising Mr Singh had not stopped.
Mr Singh had been living and studying in Melbourne since 2018 when he moved at the age of 19 and had been an Uber driver since June 2021. He had multiple references from employers, friends and members of the Melbourne Sikh community indicated his good character and the remorse and guilt he had felt following the incident.
As a result of his sentencing, Mr Singh is likely to have his visa cancelled and will be unable to continue to pursue his studies in Australia. His mother, who had travelled from India to support her son, was allowed to hug him before he was taken away.
Victim impact statements from Ann and Jorja O’Connor had been read out following Mr Singh’s guilty pleas last week:
Jorja O’Connor said she had been unable to bring herself to drive since the incident and said ‘her life was changed forever’. Following the death of her grandmother, she had been spending multiple hours of her week tending to and spending time with her grandfather prior to his death.
Ann O’Connor, who rushed to the scene of the accident, said her father ‘looked frightened’ as he was whisked away by the ambulance and lamented not being able to be by his side as he passed, having been not able to get to the hospital in time.
Mr Singh will be eligible for parole after two and a half years.
Wandin Fire Brigade Captain Darryn Goss spoke to the Star Mail in February 2023 following the crash and said their concerns regarding the road were brought to life following the collision.
“We had another motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Wellington and Clegg Road and ultimately it has cost the 89-year-old gentleman his life,” he said.
“Despite there being multiple stop signs, people are still not aware to stop at this intersection and the Wandin Brigade is concerned for the community and really wishes that the Council and State Government do something to reduce incidents here, it was only a matter of time until someone lost their life.”
According to the Wandin Fire Brigade’s records at the time, there had been 25 incidents reported at the intersection of Wellington and Clegg Road since 2020, involving 30 patients and now one fatality.
“The ripple effect of someone impacted in an accident or losing a loved one flows on from the immediate family to emergency services personnel who are attending these incidents, and while money might be a factor, can we really put a price on life,” Mr Goss said.
“We also feel there may be contributing factors from GPS devices where drivers are prompted to proceed through the intersection and not being aware of the stop signs that are in front of them.”
