Fake death probe as truckie found alive
Grant Taylor, Amanda Banks and Tim Clarke
August 6, 2015, 1:00 am
Police are investigating whether a Pinjarra man tried to fake his own death to avoid facing serious criminal charges after he was found alive more than two months after he wrote suicide notes and disappeared.
Truck driver Lindsay James Lucas, 61, failed to appear in the District Court on June 3 for what was supposed to be the first day of his trial on a charge of dangerous driving, which allegedly caused the death of tow truck driver Abby Hall on Christmas Eve 2013.
But the trial was abandoned when police told the court that Mr Lucas’ utility had been found that morning in Bakers Hill, east of Perth, with notes inside addressed to his wife and children.
Trial judge Philip Eaton noted at the time that it appeared Mr Lucas “wanted people to think he intended to take his life” before ordering that a bench warrant be issued for his arrest.
Police immediately launched a ground and air search of bush in the Bakers Hill area, saying that they held grave concerns for Mr Lucas’ safety.
Abby Hall, who died in the crash.
But the search was abandoned several days later when no sign of him could be found.
It is understood that on Saturday a member of the public came across Mr Lucas, apparently living in a dilapidated shed on a property only a few kilometres from where his car had been abandoned.
He was in poor health and was taken to Swan District Hospital by ambulance where he remains under police guard.
Mr Lucas was deemed well enough to face court yester-day via telephone from his hospital bed.
District Court Chief Judge Kevin Sleight was told Mr Lucas had hypothermia and was dehydrated, and appeared confused and disoriented when he was found.
Tow truck driver Jim Hall who lost his wife. Picture by Steve Ferrier/The West Australian
Judge Sleight remanded him in custody to appear in court again next Thursday.
No details were revealed about how Mr Lucas had managed to support himself during his time on the run.
Ms Hall’s family were told about the development yesterday.
They had flown to Perth in June to attend the original trial but had to return to their homes in Queensland with no idea if they would ever get justice for her.
The 51-year-old mother of two had been loading a broken-down car on to her truck on the side of Roe Highway in Beckenham when a truck allegedly driven by Mr Lucas veered off the road and hit her at speed.
She survived in hospital for six days before her life support was turned off.
Ms Hall’s husband Jim Hall toldThe West Australian yesterday he was relieved that a trial could now finally go ahead.
“It is a big relief for all of us, really, that he will now go through the system and we will have our day in court,” he said.
