A well-respected member of the NSW equine community has pleaded guilty to negligent driving which caused the death of his father near Dubbo.
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The son, Trent Smith, 33, of Young, was behind the wheel of a prime mover when it crashed on the Mogriguy Road about 23 kilometres north of Dubbo on May 26 last year.
According to a statement of agreed facts presented in court, Smith did not see two speed warning signs advising motorists to reduce their speed to 45km/h as he approached a sharp right-hand bend in the road.
He drove into the bend without making a sufficient reduction to the speed of the truck.
It's all my fault, it should be me that's dead not him.
- Trent Smith.
When the vehicle was about a third of the way into the bend it gradually drifted towards the edge of the road and Smith lost control.
The truck moved into a causeway, rolled onto its left side and travelled for about 35 metres before it collided with a large tree.
Trent Smith's father - much-loved harness racing identity Ken Smith, 62, died in the crash.
Court documents reveal after the crash Smith removed his seatbelt and assisted another injured passenger.
"I can't believe what I've done," Smith told police who arrived at the crash site at about 11am.
"I don't want to leave my dad," he said.
"I want to be here when he comes out, I want to make sure he's okay."
The body of 62-year-old Ken Smith was located under the cabin of the truck at 11.35am and his son said "it's all my fault, it should be me that's dead not him".
The truck Smith drove was towing a stock trailer with 17 horses on board because the family were on their way to Tamworth to compete in a horse cutting event.
Numerous horses were killed on impact or euthanised at the crash site.
Smith was excused from appearing in Dubbo Local Court in person on Wednesday when high-profile celebrity lawyer Bryan Wrench entered pleas on his behalf.
Mr Wrench said Smith pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning the death of Ken Smith and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm to another person.
Three other charges, including a dangerous driving occasioning death charge, were withdrawn by the Crown.
Magistrate Gary Wilson set December 17 as the date Smith would be sentenced in the local court.
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