A 27-year-old man has been summonsed to face culpable driving and drug driving charges following a fatal collision on the Barton Highway in north Canberra on Wednesday 15 September.
A 45-year-old male died at the scene of the three-way collision on the Barton Highway at the intersection of the northbound exit from Gungahlin Drive.
A 42-year-old male was taken to Canberra Hospital with extensive and serious injuries.
Police will allege the 27-year-old man, from Karabar in NSW, was driving a tow truck carrying a 10-tonne excavator when he ran a red light at 80kmh, killing the 45-year-old man who was driving a Ford Falcon sedan and seriously injuring the 43-year-old man driving a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Detective Inspector Donna Hofmeier, Officer in Charge of ACT Road Policing, said ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team conducted an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, which has led to the 27-year-old male summonsed to appear in court on 19 November.
He will face three charges – culpable driving causing death, culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, and driving with a prescribed drug – and could potentially be facing 14 to 16 years in prison.
Mandatory blood testing was conducted and a positive detection of cannabis was found in the 27-year-old man’s bloodstream.
“This was a tragedy that was completely avoidable. One family has lost a loved one and another male has now had his whole life changed,” Detective Inspector Hofmeier said.
“We see it every day on the roads. It’s not worth that extra five seconds to get around. Not only can you kill another person but maybe yourself, so our message is if you’re coming up to a red light and it’s amber, stop. It’s as easy as that.”
Both cars were in the middle of the intersection when the collision occurred and the tow truck travelled with the Ford Falcon for close to 50m before coming to a stop, and the Toyota Land Cruiser was propelled 60m before coming to a stop.
The deceased male was reportedly driving to a Covid-19 testing station at the time of the collision.
ACT Police urge anyone who witnessed or has information about the collision and has not yet spoken to police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote reference number 6904853.
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