Driver ‘traumatised’ as child critical: court
An alleged dangerous driver accused of causing a horror crash in Melbourne which left a toddler fighting for life is “traumatised” by the incident, his lawyers have told a court.
Peter Cheng, 22, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon charged with negligently causing injury and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Police allege Mr Cheng was fatigued behind the wheel when he crashed head first into a Nissan Qashqai SUV about 12.20am on Friday on Station Rd in Deer Park.
A 22-month-old girl was critically injured, while a one-year-old baby girl and a 10-year-old girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
All but the 22-month-old have since been released from hospital.
Three adults in the SUV, two women aged 22 and 25 and a man, 27, suffered minor injuries, while Mr Cheng was uninjured.
The accused man launched a bid for bail however the case was adjourned to Monday afternoon by Magistrate Malcolm Thomas after he learnt police had CCTV of the crash.
“I will benefit greatly from having the CCTV … so will the defence,” he said.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Moore told the court the two vehicles sustained “catastrophic front end damage” when they collided at the intersection near Tulloch St.
He told the court Mr Cheng allegedly told police at the scene he had intended to turn right and had a “lapse of judgment”.
“I was really tired and started to fall asleep,” the accused man allegedly said.
“Next thing I remember is seeing headlights.”
Constable Moore alleged Mr Cheng was on bail for a separate car crash two months ago involving “similar circumstances”.
“Fortunately the other occupant only suffered minor injuries,” he said.
“Police believe the accused will continue driving and pose a significant risk to the community.”
He told the court Mr Cheng was also on bail on a drug trafficking charge after he was pulled over for alleged erratic driving in September and police found four small bags of what is believed to be cocaine.
As of 4.20am, the officer said, the toddler was in a “unstable and life-threatened” condition and had suffered brain bleeds, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a femur fracture.
Constable Moore said Mr Cheng had given a no comment interview, but allegedly told police in October he was spending thousands on cocaine after a recent break up.
His lawyer, Carly Marcs, told the court it was her client’s first time in custody and he was “traumatised by the traumatic accident”.
Mr Cheng will return to court on Monday.
