Elderly man injured in alleged Alfredton hit and run soon to be released from hospital

A Ballarat court heard an 86-year-old injured in an alleged hit-run is still rehabilitating, having suffered horrific injuries.

The intersection of Leopold and Longley Streets in Alfredton, facing south on Longley. Photo: Google Maps

The elderly man injured in an alleged Alfredton hit and run in January is expected to be released from hospital in a fortnight.

Last month, a homeless Ballarat man allegedly reached for his phone while driving over the speed limit in a residential area and caused a crash that put an 86-year-old man in intensive care.

The injured man has since been moved from the Royal Melbourne Hospital to Ballarat.

Ballarat Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that he was still rehabilitating, having suffered multiple rib fractures, a right and left pelvic fracture, and haematomas in his rib.

Detective Senior Constable Matthew Moore from the Major Collision Investigation Unit told the court in a previous hearing that on January 22, there was a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Leopold and Longley Streets in Alfredton about 11.30am.

He said that Jesse Davies was driving south on Longley Street in a Holden Captiva that police would allege he later confessed he stole from a family member, and that he failed to give way to a Toyota Camry headed west on Leopold Street.

Davies was said to be travelling from Wendoureee to Delacombe, doing 70 to 80km/h on the 50km/h Alfredton street, and allegedly reached into the passenger footwell for his phone as he approached the intersection.

Seeing the second car, the 30-year-old hit his brakes and swerved to the right, but hit the driver’s side of the Camry, which veered off the road and struck with another vehicle parked nearby.

The court heard Davies allegedly panicked and “just legged it”, leaving his phone in the car and fleeing on foot.

The collision trapped the Camry’s driver, an 86-year-old Alfredton man, inside his car; emergency services flew him to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.

He suffered rib and pelvis injuries, bleeding of the femoral artery, and according to Mr Moore, was “still touch and go” in the ICU after “several medical procedures”.

Davies returned to his aunt’s house, where he had been staying for the past week or two, and at 2.20pm police arrested him there.

The court heard he allegedly told police he made a mistake in not observing a give way sign on the road, and that he was going to turn himself in.

Davies appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday charged with negligently causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury, driving while disqualified, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and failing to render assistance.

Police said Davies had no stable home address, usually spending his nights at friends’ and associates’ homes, and at the time of the collision was on a disqualified P2 probationary licence.

They said that because of Davies’ lack of fixed abode and “blatant disregard for rules”, he should not be granted bail.

“Police have no faith that should the accused be granted bail, he will adhere to whatever conditions are imposed,” Mr Moore said.

Davies’ lawyer Manny Brennan argued his client had been cooperative with police in relation to the collision, and because of his dermatitis and multiple sclerosis, which affected his hands and feet, he would be a “vulnerable man” if he were to remain on remand.

On Thursday, the court began hearing arguments about whether Davies should be granted accommodation at his grandma’s home once released from custody.

Mr Moore expressed concern that Davies would have easy access to the two cars at the 80-year-old woman’s house.

The case was adjourned until later in February.