Driver dodges jail in tragic road death
(CNS): Anthony Scott, who killed his close friend and co-worker at the NRA in a tragic single-vehicle crash on Shamrock Road on 30 June 2016, probably due to a momentary lapse in concentration, was given a two-year probation order when he appeared before the court Thursday for sentencing. Scott (23) and Thomas Hubbell (44) were both trapped inside a Toyota Tercel after it collided with a light pole close to Spotts Dock late in the afternoon. Both men were very badly injured, but while Scott recovered, Hubbell remained in a coma following the crash until his death last year.
Scott had admitted being the driver of the car, which belonged to Hubbell, from the beginning and at the earliest opportunity after he was charged had pleaded guilty to causing injury through careless driving, and later admitted causing his death. There was no evidence that Scott was speeding or impaired before the crash, as the two men headed towards George Town on their way home from work.
It is believed that Scott could have been driving too close to a car in front, which stopped to turn right, or was not paying attention for a second. But as he swerved to avoid that vehicle he lost control of the Toyota and hit the light pole.
When Scott appeared before Justice Carter today, the visiting Grand Court judge handed down a non-custodial sentence, as she said that the crash happened as a result of “an error in a matter of a second”. Noting the difficulty in finding the appropriate sentence in these kinds of circumstances, where the degree of culpability is far removed from the actual harm caused, she said that this case was one of “momentary inattention”, and with no noticeable aggravating features she was not compelled to send Scott to jail.
Despite having had a difficult life, Scott has a secure job and a family for which he is the main breadwinner. He has had no run-ins with the law since becoming an adult and the judge said the probation would give Scott the chance to attend relevant counselling, after the court heard he has struggled to come to terms with the tragic incident and the grief of losing his friend.
Condolences to both families. This was a tragic accident that took the life of a dear friend. Anthony, I met you once with Thomas and could see the deep friendship between you. People will always have something awful to say but focus now on re-building your life, getting educated and doing right by your child(ren) by providing for them. Don’t hang your head in shame, Thomas loved you like a brother/son and knows this was a true accident. Seek the Lord’s will for you life and see how He will turn this tragedy into a testimony. God bless you son.
Hope he also lost his license for at lease the same two years.
If I was killed by a dear friend under these circumstances I would not want them to be imprisoned.
The likely guilt over the tragedy would be punishment enough.
RIP Thomas. Condolences and thoughts go out to his brother and rest of the family.
Kill someone with a vehicle, assault a police officer and knock him out, abuse animals…..what else can we add to the list of NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS??
Does anyone get punished on this island?
WTF are you talking about!? Accidents happen everyday! There is no proof of him being under the influence! It was an unfortunate and tragic ACCIDENT! They were both on the way home from earning an honest day’s pay. What is he not being held accountable for? He was given two years probation. He did not murder anyone in cold blood nor did he “Kill someone with a vehicle”, that suggests he used his vehicle as a weapon in a deadly manner. In no way is this incident comparable to assaulting a police officer.
Your comment makes no sense!
Whoever you are, I don’t like you, but I agree with you 100%
Condolences to Thomas’s family and peace to the Scott family. Accidents happens and I am sure that Anthony suffers every day of his life. Punishments are handed out every day and since you are so contemptuous to Cayman and if you are so fed up just find another place to live. How would it benefit you or anyone else if Anthony was thrown in jail. If but for the grace of God goes all of us. Yes, I envoked the name of God so don’t bother commenting if you do not believe.