While stopped at a traffic light on a busy Melbourne road, Tony Page made a split-second decision that had tragic and catastrophic consequences.
Page, then 69, noticed his passenger-side mirror was folded in so he unbuckled his seatbelt and reached across to fix it. But Page had failed to put the car's transmission into park or apply the handbrake.
Seconds later, his Toyota hatchback rolled into the intersection of Johnston and Hoddle Streets in Collingwood.
The County Court heard Page tried to slam on the brakes, but accidentally hit the accelerator.
The car jolted forward and slowly passed through nine lanes of traffic without being struck by other vehicles.
As the car cleared the intersection, Page's foot hit the accelerator again.
He struck 75-year-old Alan Williams, throwing him about 16 metres and causing traumatic injuries.
Mr Williams died at the scene.
Police analysis concluded Page's car was travelling at between 51kph and 55kph at the moment of impact.
Victim was well-respected charity boss
Mr Williams was a well-respected, retired business figure who held senior positions at Coles during his career, and later served as a board director at the Alfred Foundation and chair of charity Foodbank Victoria.
He had only recently moved to the area and was out for a Sunday morning stroll when he was killed.
While sentencing Page In the County Court on Friday, Judge Rosemary Carlin described Mr Williams' death on April 10, 2022, as "completely unnecessary".
"His life was tragically cut short, causing untold grief to his family and many friends," she said.
"Your life continues but it will never be the same."
Judge Carlin said Page's decision to adjust his mirror was taken despite an "obvious risk".
"You could easily have pulled over once you got through the intersection. You chose that moment to do it only because of convenience," she said.
During his police interview, Page said he thought he was going to die when his car entered the intersection.
"Then I thought I put my foot on the brake and I put it on the accelerator again … and then I thought, 'Well, for sure now I'm gunna die,'" he said,
"Before I even knew it, this guy was on the windscreen of the car."
The court heard Page had no criminal record and had previously been a journalist and English teacher who had travelled overseas to teach children living in poverty.
Page's lawyers called for him to be spared jail, however Judge Carlin said the penalty needed to "manifest the community's disapproval in dangerous conduct".
She sentenced him to 14 months jail for dangerous driving causing death with a minimum non-parole period of seven months.
His driver's licence was cancelled and disqualified for 18 months.
A large group of Mr Williams' family and friends were present for the sentencing, many of whom were tearful and shared hugs outside the court precinct after the hearing.
