Man charged with manslaughter after baby, who was born after her mother was injured in a crash, dies

A baby – born after their teenage mum was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries following a crash – died five days later. Now, police have laid a manslaughter charge on the alleged drug-affected driver who they claim caused the crash.

The baby was born in Albury Base Hospital shortly after their mother arrived with multiple injuries on February 21. They were both transported to a hospital in Melbourne before the baby died. (File picture)

A man has been charged with the manslaughter after a baby – born after their mother was badly injured when her car was allegedly shunted into a tree by the drug-affected driver of a utility – died five days after the crash.

Murray River police detectives attended Junee Correctional Centre on Tuesday and charged the 33-year-old utility driver, who was already in custody on remand for drug and stolen goods charges, over the two-car crash in suburban West Albury on February 21.

Those fresh charges included manslaughter, aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – under the influence drug or drugs, aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – under the influence drug or drugs, and driving a vehicle under influence of drugs.

Emergency services were called to the crash at 2pm on February 21 before rushing the 19-year-old pregnant woman to Albury Base Hospital with injuries to her stomach, back and shoulder.

Police said the woman gave birth to her baby before both were transferred to a hospital in Melbourne.

The woman was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries. (File picture: Istock)

Her male passenger, 41, was taken to hospital for elbow injuries while the 33-year-old ute driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Police said they were notified on February 26 that the newborn baby had died.

The utility driver, 33, had faced Albury Local Court on drug charges in February before he was charged with manslaughter on Tuesday. (File picture: Simon Dallinger)

Police also raided a unit in Deniliquin, about 200km west of Albury, on February 26 and allegedly seized drugs, $2800 cash, a mobile phone and stolen number plates.

The 33-year-old man was later charged with three counts of supplying a prohibited drug, three counts of possessing a prohibited drug, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, two counts of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime (less than $5000), possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty and breaching bail.

He appear before Albury Local Court on February 27 and was refused bail.

Following further inquiries, detectives visited the man in the jail at Junee and issued the man with a court attendance notice for the other charges, including manslaughter.

He remains in custody and will appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on April 28.

Police said in a statement that they will allege that the utility struck the other vehicle, shunting it into a fence.