A heartbroken family has revealed the emotional toll of losing a husband and father killed in a crash when a police officer failed to stop at an intersection.
Sergeant Justone Wong apologised to the family of Andy Leonello, acknowledging he was speeding and not paying attention when he ploughed an unmarked police car into a bus the 76-year-old was driving on May 24, 2022.
Wong, who was on duty when the crash occurred in the semi-rural suburb Llandilo, in Sydney’s west, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death following the crash.
Leonello’s wife Margaret sobbed in Penrith District Court on Wednesday as she gave a victim impact statement detailing her emotional and physical decline since the death.
“My loving, generous, hard-working husband Andy was innocently killed, and a part of me died with him that day,” she said.
“My world has been turned upside down … I’m afraid to be alone in the house and I miss Andy’s companionship, hearing his voice, his stories, his laugh.”
Leonello was due to become a grandfather for the first time shortly after his death, an opportunity his son Peter told the court he was robbed of.
“(The birth) was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but it ended up being one of sadness,” he said.
“The person responsible … is a member of the police force that simply believed he didn’t need to abide by the very simple road rules.
“Had he done so, we would still have a dad, my mother would still have a husband, my daughter would have a grandfather and we wouldn’t be in this courtroom.”
Wong drove past a give way sign without slowing down, colliding with the bus and sending Leonello flying out of the window.
He was then crushed by the vehicle, leaving him with fatal blunt-force injuries.
Reading an apology to Leonello’s family in court, Wong admitted multiple failures in his driving.
“I am sorry for the sadness and pain I have caused your family and I have no doubt he is truly missed,” he said.
“My actions on that day have failed the Leonello family, the community, the police force, my family and my own expectations.”
There is no evidence Leonello, the only person on the bus, was wearing his seatbelt.
Dashcam footage showed he had right of way at the time of the impact.
Prosecutors asked for a prison sentence to be imposed as Wong was driving at 17km/h over the speed limit in wet conditions.
Defence lawyers submitted an intensive corrections order was appropriate, arguing “non-compliant” road signs meant the give way order only became apparent 75m before the intersection.
A finding that Leonello was not wearing his seatbelt should also reduce the sentence, Wong’s lawyers added.
Wong is due to be sentenced on July 1.
