Important message from the family of beloved Mt Barker man Bill Sounness who was killed by a drug-driver

A relative of a beloved Mt Barker man killed by a driver who was high on methamphetamine says his death should serve as a tragic cautionary tale about the consequences of illicit drug use. Bill Sounness, a well-known farmer and brilliant cricketer, was driving on Albany Highway near Mt Barker about 6.30am on March 7 last year when a four-wheel-drive veered on to the wrong side of the road and smashed head-on into his vehicle. The 79-year-old was flown to Royal Perth Hospital but died of his injuries. In the weeks after the crash, tributes flowed in for Mr Sounness, who famously scored a double century in both innings of the 1983 Mt Barker Cricket Association grand final while playing for Narrikup. The driver of the four-wheel-drive, Jenna Louise Lyons, 36, was last week sentenced to seven years behind bars for dangerous driving causing death under the influence of drugs. In the WA District Court last week, Judge Carmel Barbagallo slammed Lyons for her “selfish” and “shameful” behaviour that cost Mr Sounness his life. Lyons, who embarked on the trip from Perth to Albany having barely slept for 72 hours, was injured in the crash and taken to Albany Regional Hospital, where a blood test revealed she had a “relatively high” level of meth in her system. Police also found a small bag of methamphetamine in her car. Lyons decided to head south at 1am to see her boyfriend, despite using drugs three days earlier and having had little sleep. She sent audio messages telling him she had fallen asleep at least twice, waking up on gravel. “In this recording you were laughing about how tired you were and were flippant about driving in that state,” Judge Barbagallo said. “It makes for shameful listening.” About 4am, Lyons, whose driver’s licence was suspended for non-payment of fines, stopped at a service station in Williams, where she snorted meth to keep her awake. Her lawyer, Andrew Wadham, said she was remorseful and acknowledged “receiving news that a family member ... has been lost in such a way is everyone’s worst nightmare”. Judge Barbagallo described Lyons’ offending as “extraordinary”. “It was conduct that was protracted and which had all of the hallmarks for a disaster written all over it,” she said. Prosecutor Fiona Clare said victim impact statements by Mr Sounness’ elderly mother Cecilia, brother Robert, and sister-in-law Pam revealed the “powerful impact” Mr Sounness’ death had had on his family and his community. She said his three children were forced to say goodbye to their father in the intensive care unit before his life support was turned off. Speaking to the Advertiser after the sentencing hearing, Pam Sounness said her brother-in-law’s death had been traumatic for the family. It was particularly hard on her 98-year-old mother-in-law, who had been staying active by helping her son on the farm. “Because of COVID scenarios we were only allowed to have seven people at Bill’s funeral. We had the funeral on the cricket pitch at the family farm ... it was a very, very hard time for the family,” she said. “It would have been a very large funeral in normal circumstances. “Neighbours chose to line Muir Highway as a guard of honour, but there’s really been no community opportunity to say goodbye.” Ms Sounness said she hoped her family’s story of heartache might influence someone in the community not to use drugs. Even if the message only had an impact on one or two people, that would be something positive to come from a tragedy, she said. Reflecting on last week’s court proceedings, she said she was surprised to see a group of school students in the court during sentencing. “It just seems amazing that they were in that court at that particular time,” she said. “I hope they took on board the implications and the consequences of drug-taking and I hope they go back and talk to their peer group so the word spreads more widely,” she said. Lyons will become eligible for parole after serving five years behind bars. It is expected she will be deported back to the UK when she is released.