Abel Elias Lopez: Driver involved in crash where girl, 5, was killed in Plumpton enters plea

The driver involved in a collision that killed a young girl and injured her mother while they were on a pedestrian crossing in Sydney’s west has faced court. Find out what happened.

A man will defend allegations he was driving dangerously when he crashed into a mother and killed her five-year-old daughter while they were walking on a pedestrian crossing in Plumpton last year.

Abel Elias Lopez, 62, fronted Parramatta District Court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to two serious driving charges.

Lopez was driving a Toyota Tarago when it was involved in the collision while the 25-year-old mother and her daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were crossing at a pedestrian walkway on Rooty Hill Road North in Plumpton on March 17.

Both were rushed to Westmead Hospital, but the girl died.

Abel Lopez pleaded not guilty to serious driving charges related to the fatal crash in Plumpton that killed a child and injured her mother while they crossed the street. Picture: Eliza Barr

On Friday, Lopez, who lives in Schofields, was formally arraigned on charges of driving in a dangerous manner occasioning the death of the child and driving in a dangerous manner causing grievous bodily harm to the girl’s mother.

The court heard the primary issue in dispute during the trial would be whether Lopez’s manner of driving was dangerous.

Flowers and balloons were laid at the crash site on Rooty Hill Road North in Plumpton. Picture: John Grainger

The court heard it was not anticipated there would be a dispute the mother sustained grievous bodily harm, and noted there may be edits to the recording of Lopez’s conversation with police at the crash scene because he was in “shock” and no interpreter was present.

A Spanish interpreter will be required for the trial.

He remains on bail.

Tributes were laid at the emotional scene in March 17, last year. Picture: John Grainger

The trial was set down for February 27 next year and was expected to take between seven to 10 days.

The case was adjourned to October 7 this year.