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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Woman pleads not guilty over fatal Jerrabomberra crash

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A woman has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death over a 2024 crash that killed a pedestrian.
  • Police allege Theresa McDonald fatally struck Jackie McKeown, 48, while she was walking in Jerrabomberra.
  • McDonald will face trial in the New South Wales District Court, with her case moving from local to district court.

Theresa McDonald, 55, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death. The charges stem from a fatal crash in November 2024 that killed Jackie McKeown, 48, a mother of two and Director of Visitor Services at VisitCanberra.

Police allege McDonald fatally struck McKeown while she was walking on Bicentennial Drive in Jerrabomberra. Paramedics attempted to revive McKeown at the scene, but she died from her injuries. McKeown was a respected figure in Canberra's tourism industry, having led VisitCanberra for three years and overseeing its recognition as the country's best tourism agency in 2022-23.

cherished and respected member of Canberra's tourism family

— VisitCanberra staffTribute to Jackie McKeown after her death.

McDonald appeared in Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday, and her case will now proceed to trial in the New South Wales District Court. VisitCanberra staff remembered McKeown as a "cherished and respected member of Canberra's tourism family" who left "such a positive legacy."

such a positive legacy

— VisitCanberra staffTribute to Jackie McKeown after her death.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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