Drug driver hit an off-duty police officer

Published on: February 20, 2018

A driver had just injected methamphetamine when he got behind the wheel
An off-duty police officer and her colleague were both injured in the crash in WA
The driver Kevin Barton was jailed for three years and cannot get a licence
One woman victim has called for tougher penalties for repeat offenders

By Monica O’shea For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 15:40 GMT, 20 February 2018 | Updated: 15:44 GMT, 20 February 2018

A driver who had just injected methamphetamine and adrenaline before he hit two cyclists has been jailed for three years.

The man fled the scene after mowing down two cyclists who were on a charity bike ride in Esperance in Western Australia in 2015.

Off-duty police officer Roberta Richardson now has a permanent broken ankle, while fellow rider Cala Martella still has blood clotting on her hip.

The scene of a shocking crash scene in Esperance where two women were injured after being hit by driver Kevin Anthony Barton

The scene of a shocking crash scene in Esperance where two women were injured after being hit by driver Kevin Anthony Barton

Ms Martella told Nine News she was ‘pretty disappointed’ her state didn’t have stronger penalties for repeat offenders.

She described the moment she realised driver Kevin Anthony Barton, driving a Holden Jackaroo, was going to hit them.

‘Roberta and Walter who were both in front of me started screaming and I realised he wasn’t going to stop,’ she said.

Kevin Barton was driving the car (pictured) while high on drugs. He had just injected a cocktail of methamphetamine

Kevin Barton was driving the car (pictured) while high on drugs. He had just injected a cocktail of methamphetamine

In the aftermath of the crash in 2015, a person is seeing lying on the ground with the bikes in the background

In the aftermath of the crash in 2015, a person is seeing lying on the ground with the bikes in the background

‘The thought of him back on the road again…is anything going to change, who is next?’

Mr Barton has multiple drink driving offences despite never having held a licence.

He was jailed for three years and banned from holding a licence for three years.

Off-duty police officer Roberta (pictured) now has a permanent broken ankle as a result of the crash

Off-duty police officer Roberta (pictured) now has a permanent broken ankle as a result of the crash

Carla Martella, pictured, has called for tougher penalties for repeat offenders on our roads

Carla Martella, pictured, has called for tougher penalties for repeat offenders on our roads