A man who had been in Australia for six days and who got behind the wheel of a car without a driver’s licence confused the accelerator for the brake pedal before he ran down two children playing in a quiet laneway, police have alleged in court.
Ngoc Thanh Vo, who recently moved to Braybrook from Vietnam to live with his spouse, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to face five charges of reckless and careless driving, and driving without a licence, after allegedly hitting two boys playing soccer on Tuesday.
Ngoc Thanh (right) leaves the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday with his wife.Credit: David Estcourt
The court heard the 48-year-old had been in Australia for only six days before he allegedly struck the two children with a Toyota Prado after driving the car around the block near his partner’s home at 5.15pm in Braybrook, in Melbourne’s west.
A summary of the case read out by police alleges Vo pinned one eight-year-old boy against another vehicle and also injured the child’s three-year-old brother as the pair were playing soccer in the narrow laneway.
The eight-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries when he was sandwiched between the Prado and the boy’s family’s Toyota Prius in the rear laneway between Wirraway Avenue and Liberator Lane, behind his grandmother’s house.
He was pinned between the two vehicles for 20 minutes.
The boy underwent two surgeries on Tuesday night at the Royal Children’s Hospital after receiving pelvis, leg and femoral artery injuries. He remained in a critical condition on Thursday afternoon.
His brother escaped serious injury after being pushed away from the car, police say.
Senior Constable Cameron Adock from the Westgate Highway Patrol Unit told magistrate Simon Zebrowski that police suspected Vo, who they believe did not hold a driver’s licence in Vietnam, confused the accelerator and brake pedals in the Toyota Prado, causing the car to unexpectedly accelerate and strike the young brothers.
“(He) didn’t hold a licence of his own,” Adock said.
“He has gone out on his own, and driven around the block, appears to have mistaken the accelerator for the brake, and has impacted with the vehicle and the child.”
Prosecutors asked the court for longer than usual to compile a brief of evidence against Vo, with investigators awaiting on scene re-creations and forensics.
After the incident police took Vo into custody and seized his passport. Vo has no prior charges or convictions in Australia.
Police say that at the time of the incident conditions in the area were dry, weather was fine and visibility excellent.
A child is in hospital after being hit by a car while playing in a laneway in Braybrook.Credit: Nine News
A witness said after the incident Vo fled the scene and locked himself inside a nearby house.
Zebrowski ordered Vo to surrender his passport, report to police every Monday and Friday, and said he is not to attend any international transport terminals.
Vo did not speak during the hearing on Thursday, only bowing to the magistrate when he stood up to be informed of his bail conditions. His wife was present with him in court.
The incident was captured on CCTV and showed the large four-wheel drive suddenly accelerating into the laneway.
He will face court again in December.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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