Diabetes investigated by police in Daylesford pub crash
Police are investigating whether a driver’s diabetes was a factor in how he came to plough into a roadside beer garden and kill five people. A coronial investigation has begun into the crash, which occurred earlier this month outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel in regional Victoria, where a BMW SUV mounted the kerb and hit 10 patrons seated on outdoor tables. Five people, including two children, died from the crash and another five were injured.
Families of the victims – Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, 9, Jatin Kumar, 30, Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11 – attended the Coroner’s Court in Melbourne on Wednesday for a hearing.
About 6pm on November 5, the BMW was travelling on Albert Street towards the Midland Highway intersection, the court was told. It reached the bottom of the hill, where the car mounted a kerb and collided with wooden tables outside the pub. Coroner Katherine Lorenz is investigating the circumstances around the crash and will make recommendations to promote public health, safety and the administration of justice, counsel assisting Andrew Imrie told the court.
Major Collisions Unit Detective Sergeant Peter Romanis was called as a witness to give an update on the police investigation. He said the 66-year-old driver, who was the only occupant of the car, was taken to Ballarat Hospital for treatment and interviewed by police, but he has since been released pending further inquiries. Det Sgt Romanis said police were “investigating the extent to which his medical condition, diabetes, was a factor in the collision”.
He said police had contacted 140 witnesses and were collecting statements and evidence. Further, he said police were investigating public safety issues related to the location of the outdoor seating. “The investigation is in its infancy,” Det Sgt Romanis said.
Story continues “A decision on whether charges will be laid has not yet been made.” There was no estimated timeline for how long it would take police to finalise its investigation.
The coroner acknowledged the families of the victims in court. “It has been a terrible loss for your families, your community and indeed for the community as a whole,” Ms Lorenz said. “It’s a sad and tragic outcome of what was a very pleasant day out for those people.
“We’ll do our best to accommodate the families involved and make our proceedings as expeditious as possible.” She adjourned the matter until police are ready to provide another update to the court. Outside court, Det Sgt Romanis said the Daylesford community should be praised for the kindness and humanity they had shown to each other and families of the victims.
“It’s been very tough on the Daylesford community,” he said.
“It’s been very reassuring for the families, the kindness and compassion that they have shown.”