Police claim fatigue key to crash allegedly caused by Geelong surgeon Xiao Bo Zhang

Police will claim a top Geelong surgeon was fatigued when he allegedly caused a fatal crash that claimed the life of horse groomer at Swan Bay.

Police will claim a top Geelong surgeon was fatigued when he allegedly caused a fatal crash at Swan Bay earlier this year.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Associate Professor Xiao Bo Zhang appeared at the Geelong Magistrates Court briefly on Friday morning charged with dangerous driving causing death.

In March, Prof Zhang was travelling eastbound on Swan Bay Rd when he allegedly collided with a car, causing it to roll on its side and be struck by a car travelling northbound on Queenscliff Rd.

Rachel Watts, 35, died at the scene.

It is understood Prof Zhang intends to contest the charge at a hearing that has been set down for early June next year.

The court heard police will claim Prof Zhang was fatigued at the time he allegedly caused the fatal crash.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Associate Professor Xiao Bo Zhang at St John of God. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Prof Zhang’s lawyer will dispute the fatigue allegation and flagged his defence would hinge on findings from a sleep deprivation expert.

Before the crash, Mrs Watts had recently relocated to Waurn Ponds after working with top equestrians across the world.

Another woman in her 40s, a man in his 50s and a preschool-aged boy were taken to hospital in stable conditions.

Rachel Watts was killed in the Swan Bay car crash in March. Ms Watts was a "super groomer" for top equestrians, including two-time Australian Olympic medallist Shane Rose. Pictures: Supplied/Shane Rose.

Prof Zhang’s defence lawyer told the court his client was hit first.

“The vehicle that my client was driving was struck on the side by the vehicle being driven by the deceased. His car then hits another car that relates to another accident,” he said.

It is understood Prof Zhang was the director of cardiothoracic surgery at Geelong hospital for a number of years up until 2019.

Prof Zhang faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

Magistrate Peter Mellas set the matter down for a two-day hearing to allow time for evidence from the sleep deprivation expert, a collision reconstruction expert and four civilian witnesses.

“The real issue is the nature and extent to which there was a failure to brake which caused a rear-end collision and pushed the other car,” Mr Mellas said.

Originally published as Police claim fatigue key to crash allegedly caused by Geelong surgeon Xiao Bo Zhang