A truck driver faced court today charged over yesterday’s crash on the Hume Highway, south of Sydney, in which a young girl died and four people were seriously injured.
Emergency services were called to the Frank Partridge Rest Area on the highway about 3pm yesterday after a truck drove into the car park and struck another truck and three SUVs, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring five people.
The injured were: a woman, 45, from Forster NSW, who suffered a fractured hip, leg and head injuries; a 46-year-old man, from Glebe, NSW who sustained a compound fracture to his right arm; a woman, 54, from the ACT, who suffered multiple lower limb fractures and internal injuries; and a 55-year-old man, also from the ACT, who fractured multiple ribs.
They remain in Liverpool Hospital receiving treatment.
A 45-year-old man, from Kings Park, NSW, was also taken to hospital suffering severe shock but has been released.
The 44-year-old truck driver Brendon Lidgard, from Moss Vale in NSW, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing before being charged with nine offences. They include dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Bail Court via video link today.
The court heart Mr Lidgard had type one diabetes, and police are investigating whether it could have contributed to the crash.
NSW Police said people at the crash scene attempted to help the injured before paramedics arrived.
“Words cannot describe how tragic this is – for the family who has lost this young child – it’s an absolutely tragic loss,” Acting Superintendent Darren Sly said.
“There was a number of people at the rest stop and first aid was rendered until emergency services arrived.”
NSW Police established a crime scene, which is being examined by specialist police from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit.
Source: 9News
