Marcus Hargrave charged with dangerous driving occasioning death after Cooma crash

A 23-year-old man has faced court accused by police of causing a fatal crash south of Canberra and fleeing the scene to go to hospital, leaving his passenger to die at the smash site.

A man has been charged following a fatal crash in the state’s south on the weekend. Picture: Monique Harmer

A man has been charged after allegedly fleeing the scene of a fatal crash in the Snowy Monaro region, south of Canberra.

Emergency services rushed to a sleepy backstreet in Cooma about 11.45pm on November 18 to find a Ford Falcon had smashed into a tree on Vulcan St.

A 25-year-old man was found in a critical condition in the front passenger seat.

Paramedics tried to assist the young man, but he sadly died at the scene.

Crash Investigation Unit officers were told the driver, who police allege is Marcus William Hargrave, left the scene prior to police arrival.

Vulcan St, Cooma. Picture: Google Maps.

Police allege the driver abandoned the wrecked Falcon and travelled to Canberra Hospital, more than an hour away, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Hargrave was placed under police guard and extradited from Canberra by NSW Police on Wednesday.

After his release from hospital he was taken to Queanbeyan police station and charged with seven offences including dangerous driving occasioning death, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death and prolonged, sustained loss of traction.

Hargrave faced Cooma Local Court on Thursday where he made no application for bail and it was formally refused.

He will appear before the same court on February 7, 2024.