Avito Bandilla ploughs through intersection and kills mate
A Mildura man on a shopping run ploughed through a notorious intersection and slammed into a truck, killing his mate who came to Australia three weeks earlier in search of a better life.
A Mildura man out on a shopping run with three others failed to stop at a notorious intersection and slammed into a truck, killing his mate who had been in Australia just three weeks.
Avito Bandilla drove a Toyota Estima through the intersection of Sixteenth St and Deakin Ave about 12.40pm on December 18, 2023 and collided with a semi-trailer en route to Sydney with a load of beer.
Bandilla’s front seat passenger and house mate Reymark Recalde died at the scene while the driver suffered serious head injuries and two rear passengers escaped with minor injuries.
Bandilla pleaded guilty in the County Court on Thursday to a charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Mr Recalde moved from the Philippines to Australia in search of a better life just three weeks before the fatal crash after being impressed with the country when he visited a cargo ship seaman.
Court documents stated, Bandilla was on his way to a grocery store and a back seat passenger was giving him directions when he ignored two stop signs at the intersection of Sixteenth St and Deakin Ave.
Truck driver Mark Webb told police he was between 100 and 150ms from the intersection when he noticed a van which didn’t appear to brake.
“I thought at this point ‘F--k, he’s not stopping” So I was under brakes and then we collided”.
The two rear passengers managed to exit the Toyota Estima while Bandilla and Mr Recalde had to be extricated by emergency services crews.
A witness told police: “I saw the silver/grey vehicle go straight through the stop sign on Sixteenth Street, the driver didn’t even look or slow down, just kept going straight across the intersection”.
Bandilla could not recall from his hospital bed what vehicle he was driving or the persons in it.
A Go Fund Me page raised more than $5000 for Mr Recalde whose body was flown to the Philippines.
An extended family member who set up the Go Fund Me page said Mr Recalde was extremely excited and hopeful of his future in Australia and what it would mean for his parents back home.
“His dream is to give them comfortable lives in their prime years and pay them back for all the sacrifices they have made”.
After years of fatalities and near misses, the state government announced early last year that it was investigating solutions for the notorious intersection.
Local Jon Szabo started an online petition in January 2024 to get traffic lights installed at the troublesome intersection.
“This intersection lies close to a school and sporting precinct making it even more crucial for safety measures to be implemented promptly,” she said in her petition.
Bandilla will be sentenced at a later date.
