Australian learner driver hits sister and leaves her for dead on the roadside – fined $600, acquitted

Luk, then 22, returned to the car and threw some clothes at her sister, who got out but held onto the passenger door.

She then accelerated forward, dashing a car length while her sister clung to the door but lost control and crashed face first into another car.

As her sister lay on the side of the road, Ms Lu drove off, staying briefly before leaving the scene.

Anon died in hospital later that evening.

Prosecutors initially charged Luke with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop to render assistance, but in June this year, both charges were downgraded to two summary offences.

County Court Judge Kellie Blair decided not to convict the 24-year-old woman after finding Luke’s offending was “momentary and unintentional”.

She said she was unaware her sister was at the door of the car when Luk sped forward, and she asked for help considering the heated argument that had taken place.

She said: “To be clear, I am not sentencing you because you caused your sister’s death, but because the crime you committed was one of the consequences.”

She fined Luke $600 and suspended her learner driver’s license for nine months.

The suspension will be backdated to her arrest in 2022, meaning she will be allowed to return to the road as a trainee.