Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Adelaide Crows star Josh Worrell has fronted court three months after being involved in a crash on the edge of the South Australian capital.
The 25-year-old defender was reported by police following a collision with a pedestrian in Port Road, Woodville on Friday, July 10.
Worrell was charged with driving without due care and failing to present to police after an accident.
On Friday, Worrell pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrats Court to driving without due care, while the second charge of failing to report was dropped.
The court was told Worrell had entered a pedestrian crossing and struck a pedestrian, potentially while distracted.
Prosecutors said he had “fallen well short” of expected driving standards and that it was fortunate the pedestrian was not hurt more seriously.
“We accept that Mr Worrell was extremely remorseful and took all reasonable action to assist the pedestrian, conveying him to hospital.”
The court heard that he was on his way to training at the time of the incident, but insisted on taking the victim to hospital, and spent three hours with him to ensure he was okay.
His legal representative told the court the incident came as a result of “a momentary piece of bad driving” on the footballer’s part.
“He is incredibly embarrassed and remorseful,” his lawyer said.
“He is acutely aware this could have been worse and it is by bad luck that he is here at all and by good luck that the pedestrian’s situation is not much worse.
“His remorse is evident by his actions in the immediate aftermath.”
Worrell appeared in the dock wearing a black suit, black tie and a white shirt and spoke only to confirm his guilty plea.
In a statement issued at the time, police said the 29-year-old male pedestrian “suffered injuries and was taken to hospital by the driver (Worrell)”.
While both Worrell and the pedestrian did report to police later that day, it was not within the 90 minute time frame required for reporting collisions to authorities.
