Kyle Jayden Chitarra: Man who hit speeds of 180km/h in Brand Highway police chase given seven-month jail term

A man who hit speeds of 180km/h in an attempt to flee police in a chase along Brand Highway and the centre of Dongara has been sentenced to seven months in jail. Kyle Jayden Chitarra had attempted to speed away from police after he was spotted driving at 123km/h in a 110km/h zone on Brand Highway in Bookara on February 6. Chitarra, who was on a suspended licence at the time, continued driving when police attempted to have him pull over, reaching speeds of 160km/h, and then 180 km/h, while crossing solid white lines to overtake trucks. During the ensuing chase, Chitarra turned into Dongara and drove through the centre of the town, reaching 90km/h in a 50km/h zone. He was eventually cornered and forced to stop by police. Chitarra appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday when he pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving to escape police pursuit, failing to comply with an order to stop, driving without authority, and exceeding the speed limit by between 10km/h and 19km/h. Lawyer Melissa Wishart told the court Chitarra wanted “to take responsibility for his actions” and was remorseful for the risk he put the public in. Ms Wishart said Chitarra suffered from several mental health issues, and had stopped taking his medications recently after his father’s death. “He wasn’t thinking of the consequences,” she said. She also said he was now seeking psychiatric help and was taking his medication, and hoped he would be able to continue his treatment in custody. Reckless driving to escape police pursuit carries a mandatory term of imprisonment. Magistrate Angus Hockton said that although Chitarra’s actions were dangerous, he acknowledged his mental health issues, his grief, and his minimal criminal record, and would grant a term of imprisonment close to the minimum of six months. He also acknowledged Chitarra had pleaded guilty at an early stage. Chitarra was handed a jail term of seven months, as well as fines worth $6400, and had his licence disqualified for two years and nine months.