Driver had 43 pages of offences before fatal hit-and-run crash
The criminal record of a 55-year-old man whose dangerous driving caused the death of a motorcyclist has been described by a judge as among the worst she has seen.
Grant Crawford, a 55-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history, fatally collided with a motorcyclist in Tasmania's north-west on December 15, 2023. Crawford, who was driving a stolen car, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm against two individuals, Retnakumar Kuppusami and Suresh Rajakumar.
The court heard that Crawford's criminal record, spanning over three decades, included more than 43 pages of prior convictions, plagued by numerous driving bans and multiple imprisonments. Judge Tamara Jago described Crawford's criminal conduct as among the worst she had ever seen, questioning whether he possessed the capacity for change.
At the time of the crash, Crawford had been recklessly driving a stolen Holden wagon on rural roads near Yolla, attempting to speed through roadworks and ramming a worker's vehicle. He later crashed into a trailer, causing multiple fatalities and injuries, before fleeing the scene. Despite his guilty plea, the court heard that Crawford's history of violence and disregard for safety warranted a significant jail sentence to protect the public.
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