Twist for truck boss jailed over deadly crash
A former trucking company boss has been released on bail only a day after he was jailed over his company’s role in the horror Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers.
Cris Large was sentenced to three years behind bars in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after being found guilty of failing to fulfil his primary duty as an operator.
He was the national operations manager for Connect Logistics on April 22, 2020 when company employee Mohinder Singh crashed his 20-tonne truck on the Eastern Freeway near Kew.
The truck driver was sleep-deprived and high on methamphetamine when he veered across several lanes and crashed into four police officers conducting a routine vehicle inspection.
Senior Constables Lynette Taylor, Kevin King and Constables Glen Humphris and Joshua Prestney were pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Singh was sentenced to more than 18 years behind bars for four charges of culpable driving causing death and related drug charges.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Daniel Reiss found Large failed in his responsibility to prevent the “major failings” of Connect Logistics which contributed to the “tragic loss of life” in the deadly crash.
He sentenced the former transport executive to at least one year behind bars with a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment.
Large immediately launched an appeal against the conviction and the severity of the sentence, which will be heard in the NSW District Court later this year.
He has denied the allegations against him, which he fought in a defended hearing last year.
On Wednesday, Large asked the court to grant him bail as he mounts his appeal against the landmark ruling.
Magistrate Reiss agreed he could be released into the community if he and one acceptable person both surrendered $20,000 as security.
The former Global Logistics manager is also required to be of good behaviour while he is on bail.
He will appear in the NSW District Court in March to begin the appeal process.
A spokesperson for the regulator confirmed it would be involved in Large’s upcoming appeal.
“The court convicted the national operations manager and he holds the right to seek an appeal, to which we will duly respond,” a statement read.
