A truck driver ignored multiple warnings before driving through a stop sign killing four members of one family in a fiery crash, a Melbourne court has heard.
Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams told the County Court of Victoria on Monday police found no evidence that Jobandeep Gill, 28, stopped or slowed his Hino heavy rigid truck before the collision in Catani, 84km southeast of Melbourne, in February last year.
Mr McWilliams questioned whether Gill, of Noble Park, saw numerous warnings along Caldermeade Road, including signs at least 249 metres before the intersection and red rumble strips on the road almost 80 metres leading up to the stop sign.
"That is at least 249 metres of inattention," Mr McWilliams told the court.
"The accused man drove with such inattention he fell short of the duty owed to other road users, to their life and safety - that is criminally negligent."
Nine-year-old Samuel, the oldest of Stephen and Jade Beckett's three children, was the only survivor of the crash at the intersection of Caldermeade Road and Heads Road.
He was pulled to safety by a passer-by before the car was engulfed in flames, incinerating his parents and siblings Ella, 6, and William, 2.
Defence barrister Tony Lavery conceded his client failed to stop but argued that the engineering of the road made it difficult to see the intersection, and warning signs along the road carried little information.
"The engineering of that road was grossly inadequate," Mr Lavery told the court.
"Authorities were put on notice over the years of the inadequacies of that intersection - the driver was at the mercy of the road authorities."
Gill has pleaded not guilty to four charges of culpable driving causing death.
The trial before Judge Geoffrey Chettle and a 12-person jury will continue on Tuesday.
Share
