Brendon Lidgard trial continues after fatality at Menangle rest stop on Hume Highway

A truckie who was charged after an eight-year-old girl was killed in a highway crash informed a nurse he smoked cannabis a day before the horrific collision, a court has heard.

A nurse who treated Brendon Paul Lidgard after he was arrested over a collision which killed an eight-year-old girl at Menangle two years ago recorded him saying he had cannabis a day before the fatality, a court has heard.

At Parramatta District Court on Monday, registered nurse Tania Nguyen was cross examined about a health assessment she did on Lidgard before he was admitted to Parklea Correctional Centre.

The Boral truck driver, who told police after the fatality he believed he had a diabetic episode, was charged after ploughing his truck into the Partridge VC Rest Area in Menangle on July 10, 2020, allegedly mounting a median strip on the Hume Highway, hitting a tree, a sign and a picnic table before crashing into three parked cars and killing the child.

The court heard how, while responding to several questions from the Justice Health nurse who filled out responses in a multiple choice format, Lidgard told her he used cannabis two to three days a month and “a few joints” were used each time.

“I personally typed that,’’ Ms Nguyen told the court.

Brendon Lidgard outside Parramatta District Court where his trial continues.

According to her testimony, he told her he smoked the drug a day before the fatality. But during a police interview aired in court, Mr Lidgard told officers that he took two marijuana joints on the Saturday when he was on holidays in Tweed Heads before the fatality, six days before the Friday crash.

“I used to be a pot smoker years and years ago but now it’s only when I’m on holiday,’’ he said.

When defence barrister Simon Buchen SC suggested Ms Nguyen could have made errors in selecting the wrong box in the multiple choice format about consuming alcohol a day before the crash, she said it was possible.

Judge Andrew Colefax told the court the drop-down method was prone to error.

“From my own experience I’ve selected the wrong one,’’ he said.

The court also heard Mr Lidgard, 46, was last treated for his mental health in 2017 and was on antidepressants after going through a divorce.

Brendon Lidgard told police and his boss after the fatality he had a diabetic seizure.

Lidgard has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including dangerous driving occasioning death.

During the police interview, the type 1 diabetic told cops he believed he had a “hypo” (hypoglycaemic episode) because he failed to recall the collision, saying his last memory was at Narellan Rd.

The court heard how he felt fine while driving his B-double truck. After his arrest, he recorded a low reading of 2.8 when he was taken to Campbelltown Hospital. The healthy range for diabetics is between four and eight.

Shortly before the crash he refuelled at Uncle Leo’s Roadhouse at The Crossroads, Glenfield, but when asked what he could recall about the collision he said “not a lot to be totally honest”.

“I don’t remember until after the event when there was glass everywhere and something came up from the windscreen and hit me in the chest,’’ the court heard from the police interview.

He recalled telling his employer over the phone when he inquired what had occurred.

“I said I’ve had a diabetic seizure .... because I didn’t remember what happened.”

He told police he could manage the diabetes better and how he had taken extra insulin after consuming Chinese leftovers, a Chiko roll, an orange, lamb chops, a muesli bar, some fruit cake, a couple of jelly beans before the collision.

“What happened? How did this happen,” he told police.

He turned away briefly in horror when police showed him footage of the moment of impact and concluded the interview saying he felt horrible.

Mr Lidgard, who has had type 1 diabetes since he was 18 and takes four insulin shots a day, told police he did not always monitor diabetes and blood sugar levels.

“At times it’s been pretty awkward,’’ he said. “In the first couple of years I was pretty rebellious to the fact I was diabetic so I didn’t look after myself. I’m pretty lacksey-daisy with it to be totally honest.’’

He told police he often had mild hypoglycaemic episodes but never experienced unexplained blackouts.

His sister, Danielle Lidgard, took to the witness stand and began telling the court about a medical appointment she arranged for her brother with his GP after he was released from custody on July 24, saying he was distressed and traumatised over the crash and his time in jail.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

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