A former training partner of disgraced Australian champion mountain biker Chris Jongewaard has launched a compensation claim over personal injuries he suffered in a hit-and-run accident.
Jongewaard is nearly six months into his jail sentence after he was convicted of aggravated driving without due care and leaving the scene of an accident.
The incident occured in February 2007 when the former friends and training partners were at a party in Normanville, south of Adelaide. Jongewaard wanted to buy cigarettes and drove his car while intoxicated.
The criminal trial head that his training partner, Matthew Rex, was riding a bicycle without a helmet, shoes or lights along the same road while intoxicated and possibly on drugs.
The judge ruled that Rex was partly to blame for the accident as he was cycling erratically when he was struck from behind by Jongewaard’s car.
Jongewaard didn’t stop and continued on to a nearby resort where they were staying. He claimed he was going to get help.
In a statement of claim filed in the District Court, Rex alleges his professional cycling career was destroyed by the life-threatening injuries he suffered in the road traffic accident.
His injuries included the loss of his right buttock, fractures to his back, ribs and pelvis and a loss of strength in his lower body, according to the document.
He also claims to regularly suffer from severe headaches as well as constant pain and discomfort in his back and legs.
The statement continues, saying Rex now has problems with anxiety, severe depression and behavioural issues such as anger and general erratic behaviour.
He is demanding compensation to help pay for medical costs including physiotherapy sessions, counselling, medication and any future surgery.
