A Geelong man has been sentenced to four years in prison for a dangerous driving incident on the Princes Freeway that caused devastating injuries to a truck driver and left emergency services shaken by the scene's severity.
Reckless driving leads to life-changing consequences
Christopher Deguara, 34, appeared in the County Court of Victoria where Judge Michael Cahill handed down the sentence for the February 2022 crash. The court heard how Deguara was driving a Ford Falcon utility eastbound near Corio when he attempted to overtake a B-double truck in dangerous circumstances.
Deguara lost control of his vehicle while performing this maneuver, causing the ute to spin across the road and collide with the truck's trailer. The impact was severe enough to tear the ute apart, with the cabin separating from the chassis during the collision.
Truck driver suffers permanent injuries
The consequences for truck driver Shane Hibbins were described as "dreadful" by the presiding judge. Mr. Hibbins, who was simply doing his job transporting goods along the major transport route, suffered life-altering injuries in the crash.
The experienced truck driver sustained serious spinal injuries that have prevented him from returning to work. The court heard emotional testimony about how the incident has affected his ability to provide for his family and participate in activities he once enjoyed.
Emergency responders who attended the scene reported being deeply affected by what they encountered. The severity of the crash and the extensive damage to both vehicles made it one of the more memorable incidents for local emergency services.
Sentencing and road safety message
Judge Cahill emphasized that Deguara's driving represented a serious example of dangerous driving that put multiple road users at risk. The court considered the profound impact on Mr. Hibbins when determining the appropriate sentence.
Deguara received a four-year prison term with a non-parole period of two years and six months. He has already served 217 days in pre-sentence detention, which will count toward his sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Deguara had his driver's licence cancelled and will be disqualified from driving for three years after his release from prison. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of dangerous driving behavior on Victoria's roads.
The case highlights the importance of safe overtaking decisions, particularly when dealing with heavy vehicles on major freeways like the Princes Highway, which serves as a critical transport corridor for the Geelong region.
