Inquest into Daylesford hotel crash to probe safety of outdoor dining

The Age

9 hours ago

Others, including witnesses and experts from the road safety and medical fields, were expected to be called at next year's inquest, Nathwani said.
Seated in the Coroner's Court of Victoria for the hearing this week were lawyers for Swale, the Hepburn Shire Council and one of Swale's doctors.
Nathwani, in addressing the coroner, also acknowledged the presence of the families of those killed in the November 5, 2023 crash, and those injured in the crash.
'I'm sorry for your loss and acknowledge your trauma and your suffering,' he said.
'The impact and scars from that day will remain.'
Nathwani said as part of the future inquest, public health and safety recommendations could be made to help reduce preventable deaths in the future.
Further expert material would also likely be obtained ahead of the inquest in March.
He reminded the coroner that on November 5, 2023, Swale was driving a white BMW after earlier attending a target shooting competition at Clunes.
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At 5.17pm he checked his blood glucose monitor, connected to his mobile phone, while returning a reading of 2.9. He then left his car and entered a nearby deli but left when he was told there were no spare tables.
About 5.35pm he drove towards the bowling club nearby, stopping in the middle of the road and narrowly avoiding crashing into an oncoming car.
At 5.43pm he then headed west, downhill, towards patrons seated below, striking several people. He stopped nearby after colliding with a metal pole.
'There were no bollards or fences separating the grass area to the road,' Nathwani said.
After witnesses ran 100 metres to the nearby police station to raise the alarm, police and emergency services said they found a barely responsive Swale in the driver's seat, sweaty and experiencing a diabetic episode.
Nathwani said a clear ziplock bag with dried fruit and nuts inside was in the car. No faults were found with the car.
A police investigation found Swale's phone received 10 blood glucose alarms indicating his levels were low over about a 30-minute period before the fatal crash.
Nathwani said the inquest was expected to examine the safety of patrons seated outside the hotel, the safety of drivers with type-1 diabetes, relevant guidelines, education and public awareness.