September 20th 2024.
A tragic incident that occurred on May 15, 2023, has led to the imprisonment of a reckless driver. Oudom Doeun, who was behind the wheels of a BMW, was driving at an alarming speed of almost 200km/h in Melbourne's southeast. Despite his passenger's desperate pleas to stop, Doeun ignored the red light and continued on his path, eventually causing a fatal collision at an intersection in Caulfield South.
His friend had repeatedly warned him about the red light, but Doeun did not listen and only applied the brakes half a second before the crash. The impact resulted in the death of a Nepalese couple, Santosh Adhikari and Pratima Thapa Adhikari, who were on their way home from work at a retirement village. The tragic accident left their families devastated, with Adhikari's mother still mourning daily until she passes out.
During the court proceedings, Judge Jeanette Morrish described the victim impact statement as "powerful and moving," revealing the immense pain and suffering the couple's loved ones have endured. She made it clear that Doeun's dangerous driving was the sole cause of their deaths, stating that he had accelerated his car to full throttle and showed no regard for the red light.
It was also revealed that Adhikari had stayed back at work that day so he could drive home with his wife, highlighting the close bond they shared. This fact was emphasized by Adhikari's cousin, who spoke about the couple's loving relationship.
The court also heard that Doeun had consumed alcohol and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.016 at the time of the crash. He also did not have a valid Australian driver's license. The traffic light had turned red six seconds before the BMW entered the intersection, and it was determined that there was no mechanical fault that contributed to the accident.
The speed limit on that stretch of road was 70km/h, but Doeun was driving at a shocking 190km/h five seconds before the crash and 213km/h one second before the collision. Despite being out on bail, Doeun did not drive or return to paid work. Instead, he became a full-time volunteer at an aged-care facility.
In court, Doeun pleaded guilty to two charges of culpable driving causing death and one of recklessly causing injury. As a result, he was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison, with a non-parole period of eight years. It is likely that he will be deported back to Cambodia after serving his sentence. The tragic consequences of his reckless actions have not only resulted in the loss of two lives but have also impacted countless others.
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