A 71-year-old truck driver told police he had no idea why he crashed into a Melbourne train, killing a passenger, hours after his boss warned him about saying he had fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Melville "Johnny" Bollen, of Narre Warren North, had been making one last delivery at the end of a nine-hour shift in November 2012 when he smashed into lowered boom gates and clipped a Metro passenger train rolling through the intersection at more than 110km/h.
The collision on Abbotts Road in Dandenong South derailed the six-car commuter train, killing 43-year-old passenger David Cron and injuring 14 others.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Monday that the truck driver called his boss minutes after the collision.
David Clemmens, owner of the trailer Bollen was towing, picked up the phone and asked him what happened.
"Don't know. I think I snoozed," Bollen replied, according to court documents tendered during the committal hearing.
Mr Clemmens replied: "You can't say that, you'll get into trouble."
Bollen was interviewed hours after the crash, but told police he had black spot in his memory leading up to the crash.
"I can't help you with that part. It's a mystery to me," he said, according to a record of interview tendered in court.
Bollen is facing 44 charges over the fatal crash, including culpable driving and dangerous driving causing death.
Magistrate Elizabeth Lambden committed Bollen to stand trial after hearing from two police officers, a witness, the driver's boss and an expert in sleep deprivation.
Bollen pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His defence lawyer pointed out how Bollen had applied the brakes and was changing gears moments before the crash.
Bollen was released on bail as the case heads to the Supreme Court for a future trial.
His next court appearance will be on March 12 for a directions hearing.
