Menangle truck crash: Brendon Lidgard’s trial over Hume Highway fatal collision continues

A witness has told the court he heard a “loud bang and screeching” when a truck came crashing into the Menangle rest area on the Hume Highway.

Dashcam footage of the moment a truck ploughed into a rest stop on the Hume Highway, which killed an eight-year-old girl, has been shown in court.

Brendon Paul Lidgard, 44, has pleaded not guilty to a string of charges, including dangerous driving occasioning death, over the collision at a rest stop on the Hume Highway at Menangle in July 2020.

The truck Mr Lidgard was driving ploughed into people standing at the Partridge Rest Area on the highway about 3pm, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring four adults.

Brendon Paul Lidgard, 44, of Moss Vale.

In their opening on Thursday, the defence have said the diabetic episode he suffered was “unprecedented” and Mr Lidgard had a reasonable belief he could drive.

On day four of the judge-alone trial on Friday, the officer in charge from the Crash Investigation Unit, Kristy Foster, gave evidence.

She recounted collecting Mr Lidgard’s medical records as part of the investigation as well as taking the prosecution through tyre marks at the scene of the crash.

FOOTAGE SHOWS MOMENT OF IMPACT

As part of the officer in charge’s evidence, the prosecution played a 20-minute compilation of dashcam footage from a petrol station, a vehicle travelling behind the truck and CCTV from a roadhouse.

The video showed Mr Lidgard at the rest stop purchasing some items before he drove off again in his truck.

The camera showed the front of his vehicle merging onto the Hume Highway and driving southbound past the Narellan Rd exit.

The Boral truck at about 2.59pm, as shown on the dashcam’s timestamp, appeared to start swerving between the left lane and the breakdown lane before veering into the right hand lane.

Brendon Paul Lidgard, 44, of Moss Vale.

The heavy vehicle is then seen entering the turn-off lane for the Partridge VC Rest Area before hitting another truck, a picnic bench area and then at least one car.

Part of the front section of the Boral truck lifts up during the collision and obstructs the camera during the final moments of the crash.

Dashcam footage from a vehicle behind the truck on the highway reveals one person saying to the other occupant “ring triple-0” as they follow the heavy vehicle into the Menangle rest stop.

People are then seen heading over to a white car that has been hit by the truck.

The prosecution then played a second compilation video which showed footage from police body worn cameras at the scene.

Multiple cars, emergency vehicles and the Boral truck could be seen on the video as police officers informed Mr Lidgard he was under arrest for the purposes of a breath test.

Mr Lidgard can be seen on the phone saying “I’m just in shock” before the camera pans to the scene of the crash.

The video later shows Sergeant Foster from the Crash Investigation Unit informing Mr Lidgard he would be arrested and tested as part of mandatory procedure.

“Fatal,” Mr Lidgard asked on the video.

“Correct,” Sergeant Foster responded, and Mr Lidgard is shown hanging his head at the news.

Mr Lidgard was then taken to Campbelltown Hospital for testing where he was informed he was no longer under arrest for mandatory tests and was now in custody for dangerous driving occasioning death.

The defence will cross-examine Sergeant Foster at a later date in the trial.

CRASH WAS ‘LIKE IN THE MOVIES’

Alan Smith was called to the stand next where he said he had pulled into the Menangle rest area on the way home from work for a break about 2.5opm on July 10, 2020.

He told the court he parked at the entrance near the rest area and took a couple of minutes to exit his car.

Mr Smith said he started walking towards a fruit stall when he heard a “loud bang” and “screeching”noises.

He told the court he could see the truck moving but “it seemed like in the movies” and it took a bit for his brain to register what was happening.

“It seemed to happen in slow motion,” Mr Smith said.

Crash scene on the Hume Highway Partridge VC Rest Area in Menangle were an 8 year old child was killed . Photo Jeremy Piper

After he moved out of the way, Mr Smith heard screaming and thought to himself “hey, I better call triple-o”.

After calling emergency services and speaking with them, Mr Smith recounted walking up to the front of the truck where Mr Lidgard was standing.

“When I walked around that side I saw the truck driver and basically I asked him if he was OK,” Mr Smith told the court.

“What did he say,” the prosecutor asked.

“I feel faint, I think my diabetes is up,” Mr Smith replied.

The trial continues before Judge Andrew Colefax on Monday at Campbelltown District Court.