‘Unsatisfactory’: Blood test bungle causes delays for DiDi driver MD Towhidur Rahman charged after double fatal crash in Milperra

Blood test results to determine whether a DiDi driver was under the influence when his car crashed, killing two passengers, have been delayed by nine months, a court has heard. Here’s the latest in the case.

The driver’s case was mentioned at Bankstown Court House.

Blood test results to determine whether a DiDi driver was under the influence when his car crashed, killing two people, has been delayed by nine months, a court has heard.

DiDi driver MD Towhidur Rahman’s case was mentioned at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday, where his lawyer entered pleas of not guilty to two counts of negligent driving occasioning death and two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct.

In documents tendered to court, police allege Rahman, 52, failed to give way to oncoming traffic when his car collided with an oncoming ute on Milperra Rd, Milperra at about 7.40pm on May 26.

Pictured is the intersection of Murray Jones Drive and Milperra Road at Milperra in Sydneys west where two people were killed and a third critically injured after a collision between a sedan and a ute at 7.40 on May 26. Picture: Richard Dobson

Two of Rahman’s passengers died at the scene while his third passenger was taken to hospital with injuries.

The 19-year-old driver of the ute was also hospitalised after sustaining minor injuries.

Rahman was placed in a temporary induced coma after suffering serious injuries.

Rahman was a DiDi driver at the time of the crash. Photo: Supplied

On Thursday, police prosecutor Sergeant Balamoan requested an adjournment in the case for a further two months to obtain the results of a drugs and alcohol blood test taken at the time of the incident.

Sgt Balamoan said depending on the results of the test, the prosecution would seek to elevate the charges to negligent driving while under the influence.

A visibly shocked and frustrated Magistrate Glenn Walsh questioned why the results were not already available if the test had been completed nine months ago.

“It appears there was a mistake at the hospital,” Sgt Balamoan said. “The blood sample was not marked mandatory.”

Scene of the double fatal crash. Picture: Richard Dobson

Sgt Balamoan said the mis-labelling meant they required another two months to obtain the results of the test.

“So you’re telling me for a whole nine months no testing was done?” Magistrate Walsh questioned again.

“I’ve (presided over) murders where I got the post mortem quicker than that.

“You tell me that he was put in an induced coma. For God’s sake they would have had to test him to know how to treat him.

“They would have had to monitor their own medication. The officer in charge hasn’t bothered to get that material.”

When questioned what observations had led the prosecution to believe Rahman had been under the influence instead of affected by his injuries, Sgt Balamoan said: “Your honour won’t like my answer, but the (officer in charge) of the matter is suspicious the person was under the influence.”

Magistrate Walsh said the delay was “most unsatisfactory” and adjourned the matter until April 17.