The trial of the truck driver charged over a fatal crash at roadworks that claimed the lives of a young couple and injured multiple other people near Dubbo in 2018 has opened.
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The Crown started the prosecution of its case that Robert Crockford, 52, of Queensland, drove his 35-tonne truck in a dangerous manner.
Mr Crockford has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges.
They include two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and seven counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct.
Investigations began after a seven-vehicle pile-up at roadworks on the Newell Highway shortly before 12.30pm on January 16, 2018.
On Wednesday, the opening day of the trial in Dubbo District Court, the jury heard the car carrying 19-year-old Hannah Ferguson of Gulargambone and her boyfriend, Reagen Skinner, 21, had been "demolished" in the crash.
Agreed facts that Mr Crockford's truck was involved in an impact which occasioned their deaths were tendered. There were also agreed facts about the nature of injuries to another 10 people who were occupants of vehicles in the incident.
With Judge Nanette Williams presiding, the Crown foreshadowed the line-up of witnesses to be called.
Crown Prosecutor Mark Davies said signage started about 1.8 kilometres north of the road stoppage.
The Crown alleges Mr Crockford was driving at between 84 and 89km/h when he drove his 35-tonne truck carrying a load of precast concrete into the line-up of stopped cars.
But the Crown Prosecutor alleged the offending had started two days prior to the crash.
It was anticipated the jury would hear evidence the accused had had between 4.5 to 5 hours of sleep on the night of January 14-15, 2018, Mr Davies said.
The Crown further alleged Mr Crockford had had a maximum of five hours and 45 minutes sleep the night before the crash.
The Crown also outlined its case was that Mr Crockford's version of events changed from the time at the scene to days later.
The Crown alleged Mr Crockford told a paramedic at the scene that he remembered everything, but that days after the crash Mr Crockford said that in the lead-up to the crash he had had a coughing fit and blacked out and identified a medical issue.
Barrister Jack Tyler-Stott, counsel for Mr Crockford, said in his opening submission January 16, 2018 had been a "tragic day" and that he was "not going to shy away from that fact".
His client said he had a coughing fit and lost consciousness, the defence counsel said.
It was not in dispute that two young people had lost their lives and it was not in dispute that other people received grievous bodily harm or bodily harm, he said.
The real issue was whether Mr Crockford was "driving in the legal sense shortly before the impact", the barrister said.
"Driving must be a conscious and willed act," Mr Tyler-Stott said.
The barrister said it was true the accused had not reported the coughing fit immediately, but he had been involved in an impact and had a broken leg, and that he had referenced coughing in the days prior to the crash.
Mr Tyler-Stott foreshadowed evidence that he said pointed to a coughing fit.
The trial, which the jury was told was likely to last two to three weeks, continues.