Man charged with culpable driving causing death in Daylesford

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Police say the man behind the wheel when an SUV ploughed into patrons outside a Victorian pub killing five, ignored multiple warnings that his blood sugar levels was dangerously low.

Transcript

00:00 Desperate for answers, loved ones of those killed in the November 5 tragedy were in court.

00:07 It's been more than a month since this horrific scene in Daylesford when an SUV smashed into

00:12 patrons outside a pub.

00:13 Pratibha Sharma, her daughter Anvi and Ms Sharma's husband Jatin Kumar died.

00:19 The Bhatia family were also struck.

00:21 Dad Vivek and older son Vahan lost their lives.

00:24 Police today charged the driver, William Swale, with culpable driving causing death.

00:30 Prosecutors allege the Type 1 diabetic ignored nine crucial warnings that his blood glucose

00:34 levels were dangerously low.

00:36 On the day of the crash, Mr Swale checked a glucose monitor and app that tracked his

00:40 blood sugar levels.

00:42 Mr Swale's safe zone was a reading between 13.3 and 3.9.

00:47 But 40 minutes before the crash, that had dropped to a reading of just 2.9.

00:52 Police allege he ignored eight further warnings.

00:55 Mr Swale's lawyer said his client suffered a medical episode and is pleading not guilty.

01:00 "We just don't know what condition he was in," he told the court.

01:03 "It was a relief that at least he has been charged and now the case will go on."

01:10 Medical records and phone data will form part of the police investigation.

01:14 A committal hearing is likely next year and if a magistrate decides there's enough evidence,

01:20 the case will go to trial in the county court or Supreme Court.

01:24 Mr Swale was remanded in custody until Friday, when a magistrate will decide whether he'll

01:28 be released on bail.

01:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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