The driver who killed 10-year-old Jack Power while running a red light has avoided jail time.
In August 2018, the young boy, his six-year-old sister, and a 12-year-old buddy were allowed to go to the shops to buy supplies for a planned family party.
After getting what they needed from the store the three friends were only minutes from their house when Zhou Hui Lu, not seeing the traffic signal, ran a red light.
The light was green and signaling “free to go” as the children went over.
The driver had left work to go home, unaware that the pedestrian crossing at Blackburn High School changed from amber to red.
Jack, 10, was struck by the passenger side of Lu’s van and slammed his head into the windscreen.
He died in hospital the next day after sustaining severe head injuries. His sister had been dragged a few steps ahead of him by an older friend who heard the oncoming vehicle.
Justice Fox said that after the accident, Lu had expressed regret, remorse, and sadness for his conduct.
His risk of reoffending was considered to be low, and he was given credit for his guilty plea, which spared Jack’s young sister and friend from having to testify.
Lu received three years’ community corrections order and 300 hours of unpaid community service.