Robert Michael Ryan faces court over Waterloo Corner crash that killed Giuseppe Macheda
The man who allegedly killed a beloved Waterloo Corner farmer by driving dangerously had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, according to court documents.
North & North East
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The man who allegedly caused the death of 83-year-old Waterloo Corner farmer Giuseppe Macheda was driving with alcohol in his system when he crashed into a tractor, court documents reveal.
Robert Michael Ryan, 41, of Bolivar, on Monday made no application for bail on charges of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and duty to hold licence or learner’s permit.
Court documents showed Mr Ryan allegedly had more than the legal limit of alcohol in his blood, with a blood test returning a result of more than 0.08.
Family members of Mr Ryan supported him while duty solicitor Vageli Dimou told Magistrate Mark Semmens there would be no application.
When Mr Semmens said Mr Ryan would still be able to again apply for bail in the future, a female supporter expressed her relief.
As it stands, Mr Ryan will be behind bars on remand until February as police piece together their investigation.
If found guilty, an aggravated charge of causing death by dangerous driving can carry with it a term of life imprisonment.
Police will allege Mr Ryan was driving a silver Ford station wagon on Symes Road at Waterloo Corner about 7.30pm – in the wake of the severe SA storms – when he and a tractor collided.
The 83-year-old driver of the tractor, Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Macheda, died at the scene.
Mr Macheda’s family on Sunday gathered at the scene of the crash to remember the “loving family man”.
9News Adelaide reported one relative described Mr Macheda as a quiet, family man with five children and 16 grandchildren.
Mr Macheda is understood to have moved to Adelaide in the 1970s and worked as a market gardener — giving back to the community for decades.
Mr Semmens remanded Mr Ryan, who entered no pleas, until February.
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