Perth driver David West, 48, has been sentenced to six years and nine months after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the death of a mother-of-three in April, 2019.
West, 48, killed Moira Dunstall, 55, when his 40-tonne truck smashed into her Mitsubishi Magna as she turned at a green light onto Tonkin Highway from Armadale Road in Forrestdale.
Fatigued due to consuming meth two days earlier and suffering from an undiagnosed sleep apnoea condition, West failed to slow his truck as he approached the intersection, despite amber lights flashing 100 metres before the traffic lights.
Travelling between 80 to 100 kilometres per hour, West drove through a traffic light three to five seconds after it had turned red and shunted Dunstall’s car 150 metres. She died at the scene.
Supreme Court of Western Australia Justice Paul Tottle, while recognising West was remorseful over the crash, said truck drivers had a responsibility to drive safely, especially on suburban roads, reported WAtoday.
“You used the drug to stay alert during shifts as a long-haul truck driver. You have struggled with your use of methylamphetamine since this time, describing your use as ‘on-and-off’.
“The community is entitled to expect that those charged with driving such heavy loads are free of any risk that their driving be incapacitated by drug use.”
West was on parole for drug dealing at the time of the crash, with convictions for dangerous driving and driving under the influence.
West, who has been on bail, will have to serve 4 years and 9 months behind bars before he can be released.