Catherine Fennessy, 56, of Northwood, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to failing to stop after an accident and failing to give way turning right at an intersection.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Thomson said Fennessy didn’t stop after colliding with a motorcycle at the intersection of High and Corio Sts in Shepparton on October 15, 2024.
Fennessy was driving south on Corio St in a Mitsubishi and was turning right on to High St when she collided with the motorcyclist who was travelling straight through the intersection.
The court heard the motorcyclist was taken to Goulburn Valley Health for further treatment, and Fennessy made no attempt to report the accident to police.
After her sister contacted police and told them Fennessy had an intellectual disability, she told them she didn’t stop because there were too many cars on the street, she couldn’t find a parking spot and she saw the rider get up, Sen Constable Thomson said.
Fennessy’s defence solicitor Albert Suttor said his client didn’t see the motorcyclist when she was turning right because he came out from behind another car.
Mr Suttor said after she hit him she was flustered, overwhelmed and panicked, and eventually made full admissions to police.
He also told the court Fennessy had cerebral palsy and a mild intellectual disability.
Magistrate Victoria Campbell told Fennessy the accident could’ve ended really badly, and she needed to be careful.
“You’ve really got to take care,” she said.
“It takes one moment of inattention to cause serious injury.”
Fennessy was fined $300 and no conviction was recorded.
Her licence was suspended for three months from the date of the accident.
She was also ordered to pay $42.55 in compensation to the motorcyclist for a broken clutch lever.
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