5pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An expert on vehicle crashes has told the Bendigo Magistrates' Court data from the car involved in the fatal crash showed it did not brake before impact.
Dr Jenelle Hardiman from Victoria Police said the information retrieved from the car's on-board equipment showed it was travelling at 94 kilometres an hour in the moments before the crash.
She was also asked detailed questions about the evidence at the scene and the point of impact.
Dr Hardiman told the court the way the guide dog was thrown from the car supported her belief that it was walking with Mr Meadows on the shoulder of the Calder Highway.
Sergeant Paul Nicoll was among the police officers to attend the scene.
He told the court Mr Salter was visibly upset and distressed at the scene, and told him he thought he had hit someone riding a motorbike.
The hearing continues on Tuesday.
Other news:
1.30pm
The Bendigo Magistrates' Court has heard a driver charged with hitting and killing a pedestrian at Wedderburn smoked marijuana and did not sleep the night before the crash.
Witnesses are giving evidence to the court on Monday as part of a committal hearing for Billy-Jo Salter, who is charged over the crash.
Ray Meadows and his guide dog Gerry were killed in the crash.
One witness told the court she smoked cannabis, played games and watched movies with Mr Salter at her Wedderburn home the night before the crash.
Then about 2.30am Mr Salter and the witness drove to Bendigo to eat at a fast food restaurant.
More news:
They returned to Wedderburn about 5.30am, the witness told the court.
The witness said she offered to make up a bed for Mr Salter, but he "said he wasn't tired at all".
The crash happened shortly after Mr Salter left the property at 6.15am.
The court also heard a blood test done on Mr Salter after the crash found no trace of cannabis.
Another witness who came across the scene of the crash - at the intersection of the Calder Highway and the Wedderburn Junction Rd - described seeing the driver waving his arms and calling for help.
She said the man told her he thought he had killed someone.
The hearing continues on Monday afternoon.
Earlier
A magistrate has been told prosecutors will argue there was "no rational explanation" for why a Wedderburn man and his guide dog were struck and killed by a car.
Ray Meadows and his dog Gerry died while out for a walk along the Calder Highway at Wedderburn on June 2, 2019.
Billy-Jo Salter is facing charges including dangerous driving causing death.
A committal hearing before Magistrate Patrick Southey opened in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.
Mr Southey will rule at the end of the hearing whether there is enough evidence for Mr Salter to stand trial.
Other news:
Prosecutor Gary Hevey told the court there was no evidence that the car allegedly driven by Salter took any evasive action before impact.
He said videos tendered to the court would show the levels of visibility in the area where the crash happened.
"(Mr Meadows) was clearly visible for at least 15 seconds before the impact took place," Mr Hevey said.
The case would be put, Mr Hevey said, on the basis that Mr Salter failed to pay sufficient attention while driving.
More news:
"There is no rational explanation for these three - the man, the dog and the car - coming into contact," Mr Hevey said.
Mr Southey said it appeared Mr Meadows had been "very unlucky" given the effort to make himself and his dog visible.
The hearing is scheduled to run for two days.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News