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In Memoriam Luke Wilson

Date:
By Richard
Category: General

Luke Wilson died 10 years ago when a car driven by a police officer did a U-turn in front of him. The police officer was subsequently acquitted of all serious driving charges.

A description of what happened to Luke is from an article by Andrew Rule in the Herald Sun from 2013.

"A SPLIT-SECOND is the difference between life and death, happiness and misery.

If Luke Wilson had turned on to Black Forest Drive a fraction earlier or later on the morning of April 20, 2009, his motorcycle would not have arrived just as Peta Carbonneau did a U-turn in front of him.

He would not have slammed into the side of her car and he would not have been killed.

If it hadn't been quite so foggy that morning in the hills of Woodend, Luke would have seen the car a little earlier, braked sooner and lived to tell the story.

If Peta Carbonneau hadn't forgotten the cupcakes she'd made for a workmate's birthday, she wouldn't have done the U-turn to go home and get them.

But it was 5.30am, the road seemed quiet and she hung a U-turn in a spot so dangerous that locals say they wouldn't do it in clear daylight, let alone fog.

She has been living with Luke Wilson's death ever since."

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/two-road-crashes-end-with-unexpected-outcomes/news-story/3c88387e629f600638027f6354409b4a

 

Communicated by our member Grant Delahoy.

Luke Wilson passed away on 20th April 2009.

A memorial Ride was organised by the local Ulyssess club on 4th March 2012 where a tree was planted in his memory at the Woodend Golf Club.

His mother Maureen Wilson told me that there were never any winners from the outcome of the coroner’s inquest. Peta Carbonneau no longer works for VicPol.

It may be of interest to riders that police themselves were not surprised at the outcome, not because it involved a cop or a motorcycle, but because of our weak as p### court/legal system.  A lot of riders think it’s a conspiracy against bikes, but as thousands of coppers from junior constables to the Homicide squad know, they lose cases in court every day of the week and shake their heads in disbelief.  And when people are found guilty they get a slap on the wrist. Everyone makes mistakes, and no punishment can ever bring back those we have lost. But that’s where the scales of justice must be seen to be fair for all. And those laws are made by those members we elect to Parliament to represent us. Evidently, they are not doing their job well enough for the courts, the legal system, enforcement and the public to feel that Justice is being handed out equally and fairly.

Something that doesn’t appear to have improved 10 years later.

Luke Wilson’s life and tragic passing must become a legacy for us all to demand better from our law makers. The Dangerous Driving Causing Death laws need to made to work.

 

Grant

 

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