Brooke Narelle Hicks: 47-year-old mother jailed for three years over fatal hit-and-run that killed 19-year-old

A woman jailed over a fatal hit-and-run on Indian Ocean Drive that killed a 19-year-old lost her “grip on humanity” when she fled the scene and failed to report the accident, according to a District Court judge. Brooke Narelle Hicks, 47, was sentenced to three years jail in the Perth District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to failing to stop to ensure assistance after an incident occasioning death and failing to report the incident to police. The court was told that Alexx Wright and their partner were moving back to Perth from Green Head, and were travelling on Indian Ocean Drive in a HiAce van about 5.40am on May 26, 2024 when they got into an argument and Alexx suddenly pulled over near Jurien Bay. Alexx unexpectedly exited the vehicle, cut across the dark highway with a 110km/h speed limit, into oncoming traffic. They were struck by Hicks, who did not stop, leaving Alexx’s partner to be confronted alone with the “horror” of the 19-year-old’s death. Judge Linda Black found Hicks was not responsible for the collision or Alexx’s death, and even if the teenager had received earlier medical help it would not have made a difference. But the judge said Hicks should have stopped, and rejected her claim that she was certain she had hit an animal. Although she had taken the drug MDMA, or ecstasy, Judge Black found it did not impact Hicks’ driving, but rather her “incredibly appalling decision-making” after the collision. There was no evidence that Hicks was driving dangerously, the court was told. “You, I’m sure, as a mother of an 18-year-old boy, can understand how it must be felt by (Alexx’s) family and friends to know that, after striking their (child), their friend . . . you drove off and never came back,” Judge Black said. “You never gave them the peace of mind that may have come, in part, from at least knowing and understanding how this happened. “You deprived them of all those things that may have made the horror of that moment a little easier to bear.” Hicks drove home and did not contact the police, with the judge saying she was more worried about the consequences for her than Alexx or their family. “You lost your grip on humanity in those moments,” Judge Black told her. “In the end it seems to me by far the most likely scenario . . . is that you weren’t sure what you had struck . . . you must have at least believed it was possible that you had struck a person, not an animal. “In those circumstances, it is utterly incomprehensible why you didn’t stop, other than you panicked, you didn’t want to know. “And that’s what we often call wilful blindness.” Police eventually got in touch with Hicks, and she told them at least one lie — that she had not taken any drugs. Judge Black said Alexx’s family and friends had lost someone “irreplaceable”, with their loved ones describing them as one of a kind, who brought joy and light into every room they entered. “They demonstrated a rare depth of compassion and empathy. Whether it was a friend in distress, a stranger in need of kindness or an animal requiring rescue, Alexx could not turn away,” Judge Black said. “Alexx was gentle, caring and deeply humane. They had an extraordinary way of making others feel seen and less alone.” Judge Black said Alexx’s father had noted how “deeply saddened” he was “by the thought that losing my child doesn’t mean the next person in the offender’s situation will stay and render assistance and contact authorities immediately”. “I hope it does,” Judge Black said. “I hope that this case can serve as a reminder to our community that we are all responsible for each other. We all have a duty that goes over and above our legal duty, and that is our moral duty to help one another.” Judge Black noted that Hicks was of prior good character, had no relevant criminal history and had shown “considerable but not complete remorse”. Hicks was originally charged with manslaughter, but that charge was discontinued in January 2025. Following that, the mother of one pleaded guilty to the two lesser charges. Hicks was sentenced to a three-year jail term and will be eligible for parole after serving half that period. She was also banned from driving for two years.