Brandon Raeburn: Accused man involved in fatal Horsham collision denied bail

A man was told not to drive for medical reasons months before he allegedly caused a fatal crash in Horsham this week, a court has heard.

The man accused of causing a fatal three-car collision in Horsham was cautioned against driving by medical professionals months prior to the incident.

Brandon Raeburn, 30, appeared in Horsham Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Raeburn — a mechanic from Jung, northwest of Horsham — was arrested in hospital and charged with culpable driving causing death and driving in a manner dangerous causing death following a serious crash on the town’s main road on Tuesday.

Jung mechanic Brandon Raeburn, 30. Photo: Facebook

Detective Senior Constable Melanie MacFarlane told the court Raeburn was driving along McPherson Street when he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into two cars near the Horsham Amateur Basketball Association.

The second car he allegedly hit was that of 56-year-old Horsham woman Annie Anderson; she died at the scene.

Witnesses told police Raeburn appeared to be having a seizure at the time, which his female passenger, a longtime friend, confirmed.

She said she was unable to alter the car’s speed or course in time to prevent the collisions.

The court heard Raeburn suffered two seizures in February this year and met a neurologist in Ballarat several months later.

Det Snr Const. MacFarlane said the neurologist recommended Raeburn not drive for six months and that he inform VicRoads of the matter, which Raeburn is alleged not to have done.

She said he also missed a follow-up appointment a few weeks before the fatal crash.

Raeburn was said to have had a history of cannabis use, mental health troubles, difficulties with memory, and a lack of adherence to antipsychotic medicine prescriptions.

When interviewed by police, he said he started having seizures up to eight years ago and did not take his medicine on the day of the Horsham collision.

He recalled a GP telling him that he should not drive for three months and acknowledged that period had not lapsed.

Although it was put forward that Raeburn could stay with his brother and be cared for by friends while awaiting his next court date, magistrate Rodney Crisp denied him bail.

“It’s inexplicable why the normal moral concerns would not dissuade driving in the circumstances in which the accused found himself,” he said.

“It’s too little, too late in my view to have any confidence that any of these things could be proffered by me as compelling reasons for release.”

Raeburn is yet to enter a plea.

The case will continue next year.