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The Daylesford intersection where a diabetic driver ploughed into pub patrons and left five dead is set to be permanently closed off and turned into a park, as a coronial inquest into the crash continues.
Three adults and two children died at the intersection of Albert and Howe Streets on November 5, 2023, after William Swale, experiencing a severe hypoglycemic episode, crashed into the beer garden of the Royal Hotel Daylesford.
Hepburn Shire Council has now announced it will shut the road entirely and create a community green space that effectively joins the beer gardens of the Royal Hotel and Daylesford Hotel together.
The works are expected to cost just over $1 million and will be carried out with black spot funding from the Commonwealth.
The council said closing off the street was one of four upgrade options it considered following the crash. Other options included dividing the two lanes with a pedestrian island, and two variations of making the intersection a one-way street.
Hepburn Shire said it had selected blocking off the street and creating a cul-de-sac with car parking “after carefully considering community feedback as well as expert advice”.
Brian Hood, a Daylesford-based councillor who was mayor at the time of the crash, said the council would continue to finesse the exact design with the community, and any relevant findings from the inquest would be considered.
Hood said the crash remained a sensitive topic within the community, and was impossible to ignore or move on from.
“It’s such a prominent intersection. Every time I walk past it, I can’t help but think of the accident”.
Hood said the idea of a memorial to the crash victims had been floated a few times.
“That’s one of the sensitive areas where I understand there has been consultation with the affected families. That might be something that comes out now that we will do some further consultation on exactly what the area is going to look like.”
“It is going to affect trade somewhat, and that’s why some more work needs to be done to make the most of this [money] and maximise the use of the area.”
Swale was initially charged with 14 offences, including five counts of culpable driving causing death, but these charges were dropped in September 2024 when a magistrate found the prosecution’s case was weak and Swale’s actions were involuntary.
Swale, 69, previously tried to avoid providing evidence at the coronial inquest, with his lawyer arguing his client could be charged with separate offences at a later time and that giving evidence at any inquest could impact any future trial.
The Office of Public Prosecutions stated after charges were dropped that they would not seek to re-prosecute him.
After being ordered to give evidence by coroner Dimitra Dubrow, Swale appeared at the Victorian Coroners Court in March, and acknowledged the trauma the crash had caused the families of the victims.
The inquest is investigating the circumstances before and after the crash, including Swale’s diabetes management, his food and drink consumption, his insulin administration, blood glucose readings and alarms from his monitoring device.
It will also look at regulations governing outdoor dining on footpaths and public spaces, safe driving guidelines and education and public awareness for diabetic drivers.
The inquest is set to return to court on May 8.
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