Alleged triple hit and run driver Aryan Aryan ‘reversed over victims’, court hears

A delivery driver accused of running over three people as they slept in the street could face a more serious charge after a court heard one of them is ‘possibly going to die’.

Aryan Aryan, 21, leaves the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday where he stands charged with hit and run driving causing serious harm. Picture: Jason Walls

One of three people allegedly run over in the street by a delivery driver who left the scene to continue his paper route “could possibly die as a result”, a court has heard.

Aryan Aryan, 21, faced the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with hit and run driving causing serious harm following the incident in Brinkin on April 19.

The court heard it was alleged Aryan had driven over the trio as they lay asleep in a cul-de-sac and “then reverses his car and he strikes the victims again”.

“They all suffer serious, life-threatening injuries, multiple fractures and head injuries,” judge Therese Austin said.

“As he reverses, it’s alleged he illuminates the victims in his headlights so he becomes aware, potentially, that he has driven over people.

“He panics, potentially, but he realises what’s occurred, he drives way from the scene, he fails to stop and render assistance.”

Ms Austin said Aryan then allegedly “continues his delivery route” before returning to the depot in Berrimah where he told someone else what had happened.

“They tell him they need to return to the scene, that’s exactly what happens, he goes back with another person, they find the injured parties,” she said.

“They then ring triple 0 but he doesn’t identify himself, that’s his second mistake, allegedly, but he remains there until the police and the ambulance arrive.

“The victims are taken away, he’s spoken to by police but he doesn’t identify himself again as the driver, third mistake, potentially.”

Ms Austin said it wasn’t until later that morning that Aryan’s employer contacted police and the two men went into the station where he “admits his involvement”.

In arguing for Aryan to be forced to wear an electronic monitoring device, prosecutor Lajita Allan-Agnew said investigators were still waiting on information from the hospital but one of the three people was “possibly going to die, so there will be a change in the charge”.

In arguing against the bail variation, defence lawyer Richard Bryson said despite not being a permanent resident, Aryan was not a flight risk after working in the Territory for almost 18 months.

“I’m not trying to trivialise it in any way but the reality is if he stayed at the scene he probably wouldn’t be standing here before you today — it’s not an allegation of bad driving, it’s not an allegation of alcohol, drugs or impairment,” he said.

“He is gainfully employed and we say nothing meaningful would be gained by giving him the stigma of having a monitor on his person while he engages in that employment.”

Ms Austin extended Aryan’s bail on a $2000 surety from his employer but without electronic monitoring and he will return to court on July 7.