Fatal pub driver’s heath condition revealed
The driver behind the fatal Daylesford crash has been revealed to be an “insulin-dependent diabetic” days after five people were killed at a beer garden.
The 66-year old man, from Mount Macedon, was hospitalised with minor injuries after his BMW ploughed through the town’s Royal Hotel beer garden on Vincent St at 6pm on Sunday night.
In a statement on Wednesday, Melbourne lawyer Matin Amad said he had been retained to represent the driver.
“What happened in Daylesford on Sunday, November 5, was a terrible tragedy,” he said.
“My client is a 66-year-old family man who has no criminal history … He is an insulin-dependent diabetic and required immediate treatment by paramedics at the scene.
“He remains in hospital.”
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit visited the man in hospital on Tuesday night and interviewed him under the supervision of medical staff.
Police will continue to speak with the man after his “eventual release from care”.
He did not have alcohol in his system and has not been charged with any offence.
Mr Amad said he anticipated the investigation would take some time.
“My client has been interviewed by Victoria Police … He is deeply distressed and feels great empathy with the families and friends of the victims and of the wider Daylesford community,” he said.
It comes as the victims of the crash are revealed to be from two holidaying families who only sat down 30 seconds before they were hit by the BMW.
Melbourne lawyer Pratibha Sharma, her partner Jatin Chugh and their nine-year-old daughter Anvi, along with their friend Vivej Bahtia and his 11-year-old son Vihaan were killed in the incident.
Mr Bahtia’s 36-year old wife Ruchi and their six-year-old son were injured in the crash and both remain in a stable condition in hospital.
A 43-year-old Kyneton women and a 38-year-old Cockatoo man were also among the injured patrons. The man was discharged from hospital on Tuesday, while the woman remains in a stable condition in hospital.
An 11 month-old baby who was sitting with them at the time of the crash was also injured and discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
A memorial service will be held at The Anglican Parish of Daylesford at 5.30pm today.
