Man pleads not guilty to dangerous driving causing tradie’s death on busy Melbourne freeway

Dashcam footage has captured the horrific aftermath after a crane driver ploughed into a tradie who stopped in a freeway emergency lane.

WARNING: Some readers may find footage distressing

Dashcam footage captured the horror aftermath where a tradie was killed when a crane driver ploughed into him on a busy Melbourne freeway.

Matthew Eccles is on trial at the Victorian Supreme Court over a shocking crash that occurred on the Western Ring Road nearly four years ago.

Mr Eccles has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of tradie Joseph Hrin, 34.

On Thursday, crown prosecutor Catherine Parkes told the court Mr Eccles started his shift about 5.30am on September 18, 2018.

Joseph Hrin, left, died after being hit by a crane while his truck was parked in the emergency lane of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road on September 18, 2018.

Ms Parkes said he drove for a number of kilometres at 80km/h – the maximum speed for a crane truck.

At the time of the crash, Mr Hrin and his colleague Enok Sunthang had stopped in the emergency lane of Western Ring Road to secure a loose load on their truck.

The court was told the pair had switched on their hazard lights and were wearing high-vis clothing.

Ms Parkes said the crown would allege Mr Eccles drove the crane into the emergency lane and collided with the truck, resulting in Mr Hrin’s death.

A driver heading to work captured the shocking aftermath of the crash in dashcam footage which jurors were shown on Thursday.

It captures a plume of smoke in the distance before the driver comes upon the distressing scene and pulls over to help.

Joseph Hrin pictured with his wife Per Tin Mawi.

She said the crown would allege in all the circumstances, Mr Eccles’ manner of driving was “dangerous”.

The jury was told they would hear evidence from a collision reconstruction expert who concluded the left-hand side of Mr Eccles’ vehicle was 1.04m into the emergency lane when the crash occurred.

Jason Gullaci, Mr Eccles’ defence barrister, urged the jury to keep an open mind about the evidence.

He said it was not disputed that Mr Eccles drove the crane on the morning of the crash and that Mr Hrim was struck and killed, but told the jury they would have to scrutinise whether Mr Eccles’ driving was dangerous to all other members of the public.

The jury was told they would need to focus on where the truck was parked in the emergency lane at the time of the crash and the size of the road lanes along the freeway.

The trial continues.