Drug-affected driver sentenced for hitting schoolboys; sues government over arrest
Consensus Summary
A drug-affected driver named Tayler Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to hitting two schoolboys aged 14 and 15 outside St Edmund's College in Canberra in March 2023. Hazell, 32, was driving erratically in a stolen green Commodore when he struck the boys while crossing a median strip, then crashed the vehicle in Manuka. The judge described his actions as catastrophic and noted Hazell’s lack of remorse, calling him a danger to the community. Despite the severity of the crime, Hazell is now suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, seeking damages for injuries sustained during his arrest by AFP officers, with the civil case scheduled for July 2024. The incident has prompted calls for improved safety measures around the school, including a new signalised crossing. Families of the victims have expressed relief at the conclusion of the criminal case while acknowledging the long-term impact on the boys’ lives.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tayler Hazell, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm to two schoolboys aged 14 and 15 outside St Edmund's College in March 2023
- Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years by ACT Supreme Court judge John Burns on March 28, 2024
- Hazell was driving a stolen green Commodore from a childcare centre in Sutton, NSW, and had an eight-year-old girl inside before letting her out
- The incident occurred on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, where Hazell struck the boys while crossing the median strip, then crashed in Manuka
- Hazell was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers after the crash, with bodycam footage showing his arrest
- Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, seeking damages for injuries including pain, fear, embarrassment, and aggravated damages for violence and disgrace
- The civil case against the Commonwealth is expected to be heard in July 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Acting Justice Burns stated Hazell's guilty pleas did not reflect true remorse and described him as 'in no fit state to drive' due to drugs, calling his driving 'erratic and dangerous'
- Justice Burns noted Hazell lied during court proceedings to secure shorter sentences and called him a 'danger to the community' with 'extremely poor' rehabilitation prospects
- Joshua Way, father of victim Aaron Way, praised the boys' resilience and thanked St Edmund's College principal Tim Cleary for support during the incident
- Construction of a signalised crossing near St Edmund's College was recently approved to improve safety after the incident
- Dashcam and CCTV footage showed Hazell weaving erratically, crossing median strips, and overtaking cars at speed before the crash
- Hazell was heard on police bodycam saying 'I hope I haven't f***ing hurt anyone' and 'I think I hit one of those kids, man, I really think I f***ing hit one of those kids'
- The stolen car was taken from a childcare centre across the border in New South Wales (Sutton)
- The crash occurred outside Manuka shops, and the car was later found near St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
Source Articles
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