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Truck company charged after fatal crash

VicRoads has laid 67 charges against Melbourne-based company Cootes Transport for operating unsafe heavy vehicles after mechanical inspections last year.

Truck.
Trucking company Cootes Transport has been charged with operating unsafe heavy vehicles. (AAP)

Trucking company Cootes Transport has been charged with operating unsafe heavy vehicles after an investigation prompted by a fatal crash in Sydney.

Two people were killed and five injured when one of its fuel tankers crashed into oncoming cars in Mona Vale in October last year.

VicRoads has laid 67 charges against the Melbourne-based company for operating unsafe heavy vehicles as a result of mechanical inspections carried out in October last year, VicRoads said in a statement on Monday.

If found guilty the company could be fined up to $96,000, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of $1400.

Cootes Transport said it continued to co-operate with and support the actions of VicRoads in relation to safety on the roads.

"The matters arising from these inspections have since been addressed by Cootes Transport which is now in the final stages of a national restructure focusing on a smaller and more modern fleet with an average vehicle age of less than four years," a company statement said.

The first court appearance for the case is expected to be at Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 16.


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