A Boxing Day trip to the beach turned into a "completely avoidable tragedy" when a Chinese man failed to read some road signs, or give way, in country Victoria.
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Yadong Pan, 28, was jailed for at least two years on Monday over a crash that killed George Hullo at a "notorious" intersection near Colac as both men were en route to the Great Ocean Road in December 2017.
Mr Hullo, 52, was on his way to his favourite fishing and diving spot at Skenes Creek on the morning Pan entered the same intersection at speed, failing to heed the multiple warning signs and rumble strips.
Pan, who has no prior criminal history, had the cruise control set to 98 km/h in the 100 km/h zone and did not slow down, despite the clear conditions and warning signs.
He said that in China, rumble strips indicated an upcoming road incline. He also admitted being unable to read all the English road signs, although he understood the "reduce speed" sign before the intersection.
Mr Hullo was killed instantly and Pan's passenger, Xiao Yu, suffered spinal fractures and kidney damage in the crash, and has been unable to return to work.
"It was a completely avoidable tragedy," County Court Judge Gerard Mullaly said of the crash at the intersection at Birregurra-Forrest and Colac-Lorne roads.
It was not the first crash at this intersection but Pan would have seen the intersection coming if he had been paying attention to the road, the judge said.
He should have been taking extra care as a foreign driver with less knowledge of local roads.
"Those inexperienced in the prevailing conditions ought to show particular caution," Judge Mallaly said.
Originally from China, Pan was working in Colac as a butcher on a skilled visa and he had planned to bring his wife to Australia, which he viewed as a great place to raise a family.
He had been on the way to Lorne to spend the day at the beach with friends before the crash.
Pan was "deeply apologetic" to the victims and their families, the judge said.
Mr Hullo's brother was shattered by the death, which came shortly after their mother died of cancer.
"He was my big brother and I needed him," Steve Hullo wrote in a statement.
Pan was jailed for three years and four months with a non-parole period of two years.
The judge said Pan was a hard-working and respected man but his dangerous actions that day caused a death, and he would likely be deported after being released from prison.
Pan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Australian Associated Press
