TRUCKIE JAILED FOR SIX YEARS OVER HIT-AND-RUN DEATH OF BELOVED GRANDFATHER ON REMOTE AUSTRALIAN HIGHWAY – BUT FAMILY SAY IT WON’T BRING HIM BACK
- A truck driver has been jailed for six years over the hit-and-run death of a cyclist on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia
- The victim’s family say the sentence won’t change the fact they’ll “never get our father back”
- The cyclist, Chris Barker, was a grandfather and adventurer who was taking part in a gruelling endurance ride when he was struck
- The truck driver, Anil Sharma, did not stop to help and continued on his journey after the fatal crash
In a heartbreaking development, the family of a beloved cyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run on a remote Australian highway say they will never get closure, despite the truck driver being jailed for six years. Chris Barker, a 62-year-old grandfather and adventurer, was taking part in the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride when he was struck by Anil Sharma’s vehicle on the Eyre Highway near Madura, about 200km west of the WA/SA border.
Sharma, 38, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop charges and was sentenced to six years behind bars in court in Perth on Friday. However, the victim’s family say the sentence is little consolation for their loss. “We as a family hope that this situation can be made an example of in terms of future drivers that find themselves in a similar situation,” said Aiden Barker, Chris’s son.
Chris, nicknamed “Caveman”, was an experienced adventurer who had climbed New Zealand’s tallest mountain and was once trapped in a snow cave for five days. His death triggered a wave of tributes, with friends and family remembering him as a generous person and “true legend”.
Despite the sentencing, Chris’s family say they will never get their father back. “It was a reasonable outcome today. We still feel it could have been better,” Aiden said. “It won’t ever take away the fact we will never get our father back. It was just a little bit of closure for us and to be able to move forward from this difficult situation.”
Sharma will be eligible for parole after serving four years. The WA Police and Major Crash have been praised for their work on the case, with Aiden saying: “We appreciate all the work they have done for us.”