Jason Stuart Wansbrough: Centennial Park hit and run driver tried left man on road because he ‘panicked’

An Albany man has admitted he panicked when he left a man lying on the road after hitting him with his car in Centennial Park last year because he thought he had killed him. Jason Stuart Wansbrough was distracted by the cigarette lighter in his Toyota LandCruiser when he struck a male pedestrian who was standing on Sandford Road in Centennial Park at 9.14pm on August 10, 2024. The 50-year-old stopped but did not leave his car and check on the man or alert emergency services. Instead he drove off in a panic because he thought he had killed him. The 43-year-old victim suffered skull fractures and bleeding to the brain. He was taken to hospital after a passerby motorist noticed him lying on the road and called Triple-0. After the hit-and-run, Wansbrough tried to get rid of the evidence, replacing his side mirror and covering up the damage at a panel beating shop. He eventually admitted to the incident on August 12, handing himself in at Albany police station and telling officers he had panicked and taken off. He was released on bail, which he breached on November 28 by failing to appear in court, citing mental health reasons. In Albany Magistrates Court last Thursday, Wansbrough pleaded guilty to all three charges — failing to report an incident to police, failing to stop after a road incident and breach of bail. A fourth charge of careless driving causing grievous bodily harm was discontinued by police. Legal Aid lawyer Wendy Stewart said the decision to leave the victim on the road “haunts” her client who handed himself in to police because his conscience got the better of him. Ms Stewart asked the court to consider a community-based order or a fine, stating that Wansbrough had lost his job as a result of the offending and was experiencing homelessness. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker said assistance must be rendered immediately when an accident occurred and Wansbrough left an injured man on the side of the road without calling emergency services. Sgt Walker said the crash could have had “catastrophic consequences” and suggested a suspended term of imprisonment may be an appropriate sentence. Magistrate Tanya Watt agreed and ordered a pre-sentence report from Adult Community Corrections. Wansbrough will be sentenced in Albany Magistrates Court on January 21.