Driver who smashed into and killed an elderly man while speeding because he wanted to 'improve his mood' is jailed for a year
- Brandon Lee Harnell was speeding well over the limit when he crashed into a car
- The accident happened on March 31, 2018 and led to the death of an elderly man
- The 26-year-old pled guilty to dangerous driving and was jailed for four years
- He will walk free in one year as the remainder of his sentence was suspended
- Chief Judge O'Brien accepted he had displayed genuine remorse
- He was also believed to not be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Harnell remained at the scene of the accident and notified emergency services
- He has been disqualified from driving for five years
A Brisbane driver who found speeding improved his mood has been jailed for killing an elderly man by crashing into his car on the Easter weekend.
Brandon Lee Harnell, 26, was speeding 40 km/h over the limit in his ute along Beenleigh Road in Runcorn, in Brisbane's south, when he crashed into the man's car on the night of March 31 last year.
Harnell was jailed for four years in Brisbane District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his 72-year-old victim, who died at the scene.
Brandon Lee Harnell was speeding 40 km/h over the limit in his ute along Beenleigh Road in Runcorn, in Brisbane's south (pictured), when he crashed into the man's car
Share this article
But he will walk free from jail in a year's time after the remainder of his sentence was suspended.
Chief Judge Kerry O'Brien labelled him an 'irresponsible driver' who was driving in an aggressive manner prior to the crash.
'No sentence I can impose on you today can ever adequately compensate for the great loss of a life,' he said.
'You are going to have to live with that fact for the rest of your life and know the rest of your life the role that you played.'
Harnell had a 'pre-existing depressive disorder' before the crash and 'speeding was something he did to improve his mood', a psychologist's report said.
Harnell had a 'pre-existing depressive disorder' before the crash and 'speeding was something he did to improve his mood'
He acted impulsively because of 'immaturity and a lack of insight about the dangers of risky driving behaviour', the report said.
Chief Judge O'Brien accepted he had displayed genuine remorse.
He noted he was not driving while affected by drugs, alcohol or inattention.
Harnell, who attempted to brake but was going too fast to stop, remained at the scene of the crash and called triple zero.
He has been disqualified from driving for five years.
Harnell was jailed for four years in Brisbane District Court (pictured) on Monday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his 72-year-old victim
