A speeding and alcohol-affected Victorian truckie has been jailed for six years after running down and killing an international student as he was getting into his car.
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Delivery driver Kerasoma Fetalaiga, 34, of Pakenham, pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing the death of 19-year-old Indian man Vishal Mahant at Dandenong on April 7, 2017.
Fetalaiga was tailgating a semi trailer and attempting to overtake it on Frankston Dandenong Road, where he moved from the centre lane into the left lane, the County Court was told on Wednesday.
Mr Mahant was standing on the driver's side of his car, parked legally in the left lane in front of his work, and was about to get in the driver's seat when hit by Fetalaiga's tray truck and thrown 29 metres.
Fetalaiga stopped at the scene as paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive Mr Mahant.
Police found five empty bourbon and coke cans and a sixth open can in Fetalaiga's cabin and crash experts estimated his speed was 83 km/h in a 60 zone before the crash.
The father of four had a blood alcohol reading of .076 at the time, despite truck drivers requiring a zero reading.
"You knew you should not be driving with alcohol in your system and that's a concerning feature of your offending," Judge Michael O'Connell said on Wednesday.
"A young man who was loved and cherished has lost his life as a result of your culpable driving."
Fetalaiga told police the crash happened as he took a detour after a frustrating work day, with his jobs taking much longer than expected.
"It was clear you were genuinely shocked at what you had done at the scene," the judge told him.
Mr Mahant's devastated parents watched the sentencing live via video link from India.
They described their son as a "kind soul" and dedicated student.
He came to Australia to study at university and had dreams of becoming a successful businessman.
"He was our hope of taking the family forward," his father said in a statement read by Judge O'Connell.
"His absence has left me in profound grief.
"He's left a big gap in my heart and that void can never be filled. I miss him each passing day."
The judge took into account Fetalaiga's guilty plea, remorse, lack of priors, good work history and the delay in his case.
He will spend at least three years and three months in prison before being eligible for release on parole.
Australian Associated Press
