Teen killed in NSW hit-and-run sparks calls for tougher road safety laws
Fourteen-year-old Bryson Dimovski died after being struck by a driver distracted by a phone, and his family is urging stricter penalties and testing rules.
In July 2023, 14-year-old Bryson Dimovski was traveling on an e-scooter in Warners Bay, New South Wales, when he was struck by a car driven by 21-year-old Jaycob Gemza, who was looking at his phone. After the collision, Gemza pulled over briefly before abandoning the scene without rendering aid, leaving Bryson’s body undiscovered for six hours. The court in Newcastle found Gemza guilty of failing to stop and assist as well as negligent and dangerous driving, sentencing him to five years in prison with parole possible after three years and three months.
Judge Paul Marr used the hearing to warn about phone distraction, urging the courtroom to keep phones off. Bryson’s parents, Andrew and Melissa Dimovski, are lobbying for tougher sentencing and a longer testing window for drugs and alcohol, after learning Gemza had consumed three beers before driving. Their petition for “Bryson’s Law” was rejected by NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley, but they intend to continue the campaign.
Why it matters
The case highlights the deadly risk of distracted driving and fuels debate over harsher penalties and testing limits.
In this story
