Elderly driver's heart-wrenching plea after 'unforgivable' red light accident
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In a solemn courtroom in Adelaide, the air was heavy with grief and regret as 87-year-old Elemer Dobak faced the consequences of a moment that changed lives forever.
The elderly driver, who ran a red light in February 2023, resulting in the death of a pedestrian, stood before the District Court, his remorse palpable.
The tragic incident occurred outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where Rosewater grandmother Joan McCaskill, 85, was critically injured and later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
The loss of McCaskill, described by her family as 'the jewel' of their lives, has left an indelible mark on her loved ones.
Granddaughter Rachel Asir spoke of her grandmother's strength and independence.
‘(She was) strong, fiercely independent, a pillar of the community,’
The court heard that Dobak had an unobstructed view of the road on the day of the crash.
Prosecutors emphasised that the traffic light had been red for seven seconds before he drove through the intersection.
Despite regular assessments of his eyesight, which had deemed him fit to drive, Dobak could not explain his failure to notice the critical signal.
The McCaskill family shared their harrowing experience of indescribable trauma, having witnessed their matriarch in a state of vulnerability they never imagined.
They expressed that Dobak's actions, which led to such a devastating outcome, were 'unforgivable and inexcusable.'
Outside the courtroom, a distraught Dobak apologised, saying he was 'sorry for everything.'
A supporter by his side conveyed their devastation and extended heartfelt sympathies to Mrs McCaskill's family, acknowledging the gravity of the tragedy.
Dobak will face a sentence in August.
In related news, Paulette Mountford, a grandmother, is in critical condition after an alleged stabbing attack by her partner in Perth's east.
The case, considered domestic violence, saw Mountford found injured in her garden before being rushed to Royal Perth Hospital for emergency surgery. Read more here.
Have you faced a similar situation? How did you or your loved ones decide to stop driving? Your insights could be invaluable to someone else in our community.
The elderly driver, who ran a red light in February 2023, resulting in the death of a pedestrian, stood before the District Court, his remorse palpable.
The tragic incident occurred outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where Rosewater grandmother Joan McCaskill, 85, was critically injured and later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
The loss of McCaskill, described by her family as 'the jewel' of their lives, has left an indelible mark on her loved ones.
Elemer Dobak pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Credit: 7News / YouTube
Granddaughter Rachel Asir spoke of her grandmother's strength and independence.
‘(She was) strong, fiercely independent, a pillar of the community,’
The court heard that Dobak had an unobstructed view of the road on the day of the crash.
Prosecutors emphasised that the traffic light had been red for seven seconds before he drove through the intersection.
Despite regular assessments of his eyesight, which had deemed him fit to drive, Dobak could not explain his failure to notice the critical signal.
The McCaskill family shared their harrowing experience of indescribable trauma, having witnessed their matriarch in a state of vulnerability they never imagined.
They expressed that Dobak's actions, which led to such a devastating outcome, were 'unforgivable and inexcusable.'
Outside the courtroom, a distraught Dobak apologised, saying he was 'sorry for everything.'
A supporter by his side conveyed their devastation and extended heartfelt sympathies to Mrs McCaskill's family, acknowledging the gravity of the tragedy.
Dobak will face a sentence in August.
In related news, Paulette Mountford, a grandmother, is in critical condition after an alleged stabbing attack by her partner in Perth's east.
The case, considered domestic violence, saw Mountford found injured in her garden before being rushed to Royal Perth Hospital for emergency surgery. Read more here.
