News Brief: English
Summary
Over a decade after a fatal 2014 truck crash on the South-Eastern Freeway in Adelaide, the victims’ families have delivered redacted impact statements in court. The waste company, Cleanaway Operations, faces a potential $3 million fine after being convicted on safety breaches.
Key Points
- Long-Awaited Hearing: Victim impact statements from the daughters of Thomas Spiess (57), who died in the crash, were read in court 11 years after the incident. Parts were blacked out by legal agreement, a practice the Chief Justice noted is limited in South Australia.
- Families’ Anguish: The daughters described prolonged grief, media-triggered trauma, and the impact on their children’s lives. They wish to remember their father for the “years of beauty,” not his death.
- Company Conviction & Appeal: Cleanaway was found guilty of failing to comply with health and safety duties. After appeals, two convictions remain. The company has filed a High Court appeal and argues its offending was at the “lower end” of seriousness.
- Safety Failures Revealed: The court heard the driver had minimal experience, had never driven the route or a manual truck. Brake failure led to speeds of 151km/h. The company has since implemented specific training for steep routes.
- Next Steps: The court will impose a penalty at a later date, with a maximum fine of $1.5 million per remaining count ($3 million total).
新闻简报：中文
摘要
2014年阿德莱德东南高速公路致命卡车事故发生十余年后，遇难者家属在法庭上宣读了经过编辑的受害人影响陈述。涉事废物处理公司Cleanaway Operations因违反安全规定被定罪，面临最高300万澳元的罚款。
关键点
- 迟来的听证：事故中遇难的托马斯·斯皮斯（57岁）的女儿们在事发11年后，于法庭上宣读了受害人影响陈述。部分内容经控辩双方同意被涂黑，首席法官指出南澳大利亚对此类编辑有限制。
- 家属的痛苦：女儿们描述了漫长的悲痛、媒体报道带来的创伤以及对子女生活的影响。她们希望记住父亲带来的”多年美好”，而非他被夺走的那一天。
- 公司定罪与上诉：Cleanaway公司未能履行健康与安全职责的罪名成立。经上诉后，仍有两项定罪成立。该公司已向高等法院提出上诉，并辩称其违法行为严重程度”较低”。
- 安全漏洞曝光：法庭获悉，肇事司机经验极少，从未驾驶过该路线或手动挡卡车。刹车失灵导致车速达151公里/小时。该公司此后已实施针对陡峭路段的专门培训。
- 后续进展：法庭将于稍后日期宣判处罚，两项剩余罪名的最高罚款合计为300万澳元。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-10/south-eastern-freeway-fatal-crash-victim-impact-statements/106126356