A 25-year-old man on trial over a catastrophic regional road collision that claimed four lives has told a jury he was "dead set" certain he was not behind the wheel.
The accused took the witness stand in the Dubbo District Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and drink-driving charges. The allegations stem from a collision on the Newell Highway in central-western New South Wales, ABC News NSW reported.
Accused insists another person steered vehicle
Giving evidence in his own defence, the man rejected Crown assertions that he had physical control of the vehicle when it veered into tragedy. Addressing the jury directly, the 25-year-old maintained that while he was present inside the car during the journey, another occupant was responsible for driving at the moment of impact.
Under questioning, he remained resolute in his recollection despite the chaotic aftermath and trauma of the crash scene, telling the court he was certain of his position as a passenger prior to the impact.
His appearance on the stand marks a critical phase in the District Court trial, which has drawn sombre attention across the regional community.
Fatal aftermath on the Newell Highway
The trial centres on a devastating collision along the Newell Highway, one of the state's major freight routes connecting the Victorian border through to Queensland. Emergency services were confronted with a catastrophic scene following the incident, in which four people died from their injuries.
Road policing units and forensic investigators spent days examining the crash site, analysing physical debris, vehicular damage, and tyre markings in an effort to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fatal outcome.
The highway, noted for its expansive, high-speed regional stretches, has long been a focal point for road safety operations targeting driver impairment, fatigue, and excessive speed.
Prosecution points to intoxication and forensic data
Crown prosecutors allege the accused was operating the motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, arguing his standard of driving fell substantially below what was required by law. According to ABC News NSW, the prosecution contends that the available physical evidence, injury patterns, and post-crash witness accounts support the conclusion that the defendant was occupying the driver's seat.
In response, the defence has challenged the prosecution's reconstruction, suggesting that the violent trajectory of the vehicle and the resulting displacement of occupants created significant room for doubt regarding who was actually steering.
Dubbo jury to weigh conflicting accounts
The trial before the Dubbo District Court is expected to conclude in the coming days, with closing addresses from both the Crown and defence counsel scheduled once all evidence has been tendered.
Jurors will ultimately be directed to determine whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was the driver at the time of the fatal impact. Under New South Wales transport law, convictions for dangerous driving occasioning death carry substantial custodial penalties.