Hit-run driver destroyed footage in bid to hide crime

A driver who mowed down a man and his guide dog as they walked along a highway in rural Victoria destroyed dashcam footage to try to hide his crime.

Raymond Meadows was struck and killed while walking to the gym with his guide dog. Picture: Facebook

A driver who struck and killed a blind man and his guide dog as they walked along a country Victorian highway destroyed his dashboard camera footage in a bid to hide his crime.

Billy-Jo Salter, 23, pleaded guilty in Victoria’s County Court on Tuesday to dangerous driving causing the death of Raymond Meadows on the Calder Hwy just outside Wedderburn, 215km northwest of Melbourne, on June 2, 2019.

Raymond Meadows and his guide dog, Gerry.

Mr Meadows, 63, was wearing a high-visibility vest fitted with flashing lights when he and his seeing eye dog, Gerry, were mowed down as they walked to the gym about 6.40am.

Salter, from Tallygaroopna, also pleaded guilty to the destruction of evidence after he “destroyed or concealed that secure digital card with the intention of preventing it being used in evidence in a legal proceeding”.

Detectives charged him almost a year after the hit-run after a public appeal for information saw a woman come forward with information that Salter had removed the SD card.

She told police he threatened to kill her and burn her house down if she went to authorities.

Charges of perverting the course of justice and making threats to kill were withdrawn as part of his plea.

Salter, who remains on bail, will front a pre-sentencing hearing on November 11.