Drunk driver jailed for killing triathlete
A drink driver has been sentenced to more than five years behind bars over a fatal hit and run that claimed the life of star WA triathlete Brynt McSwain.
The three-time Australian representative was knocked off his bicycle when he was hit by a car being driven by Joseph Frances Haenga in Welshpool in October last year.
Haenga was jailed for 5 and a half years today after pleading guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, refusing a breath test, failure to stop and render assistance and failure to report a crash.
Mr McSwain was hit by Haenga's utility as he rode along Kewdale Road in the morning.
He had just finished a 12 hour night shift and had consumed five alcoholic drinks with workmates before getting into his car.
The court was told Haenga drove over the speed limit, swerved his car and drove into a traffic cone in the minutes before he hit Mr McSwain.
WA triathlete Brynt McSwain with girlfriend Katey Gibb. Picture: Bill Hatto /The West Australian
He did not stop to help the stricken cyclist and crashed into a light pole on Roe Highway a few minutes later.
District Court Judge Richard Keen said Haenga would have known he had consumed "far too much alcohol" when he made the decision to drive.
"There is an enormous amount of carnage on our roads," he said.
Haenga, who is married with three children, can not remember driving into Mr McSwain or crashing his utility on the highway.
Defence lawyer Nicholas Scerri argued his client fell asleep at the wheel and was not aware he had hit a cyclist, but this explanation was rejected by Judge Keen.
Mr Scerri said Haenga was not a regular drinker and had worked 12 hours a day in the two weeks leading up to the crash.
Brynt McSwain's girlfriend Katey Gibb leaves court. Picture: Lincoln Baker/The West Australian
Outside court, he said the Haenga family's thoughts and feelings were with Mr McSwain's loved ones.
"Understandably they feel dreadful," he said.
Mr McSwain was thrown into the air when he was hit by the car and died at the scene.
His mother Snow and girlfriend Katey Gibb pleaded with drivers to take more care in sharing the road with cyclists after the crash.
His distraught girlfriend did not comment outside court today.
Haenga has been disqualified from driving for four years.
