Abel Lopez found not guilty after fatally beating a five-year-old girl in Plumpton, Sydney

A jury has acquitted a man charged with dangerous driving after he fatally struck a girl who was walking with her mother at a pedestrian crossing in western Sydney.

Abel Elias Lopez, 63, faced criminal trial in Parramatta District Court last week after beating Taylor Maddock and her five-year-old daughter, Alannah Sobolewski, in Plumpton at 7:15pm on March 17. of 2021.

Charged with two counts of dangerous driving resulting in death and serious bodily injury, a panel of juries found him not guilty Friday.

Mr. Lopez was driving his Toyota Tarago pickup home from a Bible study when he collided with the mother and child at the Rooty Hill Road North intersection.

Around dusk on a cloudy day, Mrs. Maddock and Alannah had bought pizza at a nearby Domino’s and were on their way home.

Alannah’s mother, Taylor Maddock, was also struck but survived with serious injuries. This week the man behind the wheel Abel Elias López was found not guilty in a criminal trial on charges of dangerous driving

Alannah was rushed to Westmead Hospital but died later that night.

His mother suffered significant leg, hip and back injuries, which required surgery and multiple hospital visits. The 27-year-old appeared in court and required a walker to get around.

Lopez argued that he had slowed down before the crosswalk but had not seen the mother or child because of the low light, the clothing they were wearing, and the glare from oncoming traffic.

At the trial before Judge Andrew Colefax, jurors also heard that the reflectors on the crosswalk were not working.

Crown prosecutors argued unsuccessfully that López had been inattentive and had approached the pedestrian crossing at the 60 km/h speed limit.