Raising Amara: Geraldton family’s rollercoaster ride of birth and grief

The Trimocha family have described the past six months as a “rollercoaster ride” after the death of Armando Trimocha Jr in an accident earlier this year. His daughter, Amara, was born three weeks after the crash and the family have juggled processing their grief with welcoming her into the world. “We were obviously very happy that she was healthy and so cute, but there are days where we reminisce,” Armando’s sister Angeli said. Last weekend was Amara’s baptism, which Armando and his wife Joan had planned before the fatal accident on Brand Highway. Just days before the baptism, Magistrate Chris Miocevich found the driver of the vehicle that hit Armando was only partially responsible for the accident as the road was “confusing and treacherous”. Peter William Wheeldon was fined $4000 and lost his licence for three months. “The outcome that happened was very disappointing — $4000 isn’t enough to pay my husband’s life,” Joan Trimocha said. During sentencing, Mr Miocevich said: “The penalty I impose is not the value of Armando’s life, his life is priceless.” The Trimocha family have decided to consult with lawyers and want to appeal the court’s decision. They are unsure of the result they want, other than a punishment that better reflects the loss they have experienced. Armando’s mother Neng said she felt “very angry” at Mr Wheeldon. “That’s my only son. He is not a lazy driver,” she said. The family also said they would like to see the dangerous intersection rectified. “I know it’s not cheap, but life is priceless and you can’t get it back,” Angeli said. Although it has been an unforgiving year for the family, they described themselves as “blessed” because of the help they had received. Joan Trimocha said: “He has so many friends that I didn’t even know ... they have given us support and prayers.” Angeli said: “When we had family and friends over from Perth, we’d wake up to them cleaning our house.” Joan said she was haunted by what might have been. “I always think ‘what if he was here?’ when I am walking on the foreshore, eating outside or having fun with the baby,” she said. Loved ones muster stories in memories of Armando Jnr Recently widowed Joan Trimocha has asked for members of the community to help keep her late husband’s memory alive by sharing their stories of him with their daughter as she grows up. Amara Trimocha was born on February 28 this year, about two months after a tragic road accident took her father Armando’s life. Her grandmother Neng said Amara looked exactly like Armando when he was a little boy. “She has his eyes, his face, his smile,” she said. Joan Trimocha said the family still talked about Armando every day. His sister Angeli said: “We visit the cemetery every day and bring him a cup of coffee”. The family all agreed Armando should be remembered as the happy-go-lucky person they depended on to bring a touch of positivity into each day. “He was a person with a smile on his face always,” Joan Trimocha said. She said despite the absence of her father, Amara was growing up surrounded by the love and support of her big family. “Everyone fights over who gets to hold her,” she said. Fatal-turn junction upgrades next year Improvements to the intersection where motorcyclist Armando Trimocha Jr lost his life have been scheduled to begin early next year. The 28-year-old was killed when a motorist, Peter William Wheeldon, attempted to turn right on to Brand Highway from Barrett Drive and collided with the motorcycle. In sentencing Wheeldon, Magistrate Chris Miocevich described the intersection as “confusing and treacherous”. Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said the State Government had recognised the intersection as a high- priority project after the accident — committing $2 million in Black Spot funding. The upgrades, expected to take three months, will begin in early 2021 with an extension of the dual southbound lanes on Brand Highway past Lockyer Road and installation of a left-turn pocket for vehicles accessing Barrett Drive. “Main Roads has also considered interim treatments, but none deliver the required safety benefits and some potentially create other problems,” Mr Roberts said. “Whilst the current intersection is not considered ideal, the real issue that requires treatment is the masking of southbound through-traffic on Brand Highway by left-turning traffic into Barrett Drive.” Barrett Road will be closed with detours in place at times during the construction. Before the death of Armando Trimocha Jr, Main Roads had received reports of six accidents at the intersection over a five-year period. In Geraldton Magistrate’s Court, Wheeldon pleaded guilty to careless driving occasioning death. Mr Miocevich found Wheeldon had limited culpability for the crash, fining him $4000 and suspending his licence for three months. Works at the intersection are expected to begin later this year with the relocation of utilities.