A 43-year-old male driver has been bailed in a Sydney court today over the death of a motorcycle pillion and the injury of the rider in a three-vehicle crash in Moorebank in July 2020.
Yoshiaki Watanabe was charged with:
- Dangerous driving occasioning death — drive manner dangerous;
- dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm — drive manner dangerous;
- negligent driving (occasioning death); and
- negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm).
He appeared in Campbelltown Local Court today where the matter was adjourned to 7 October 2020 when Watanabe will be excused from attending. He was released on conditional bail.
The incident occurred about 10am on Sunday 19 July 2020, on Moorebank Avenue, near Church Road, Moorebank, when two cars and a motorcycle collided.
The motorcycle rider, a 34-year-old man, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition.
Sadly, his 41-year-old female pillion died at the scene.
The driver of a silver Lexus, a 36-year-old man, and Watanabe, the driver of a red Mazda CX5, were uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit officers arrested Watanabe at a unit on Hosking Crescent, Glenfield, about 7.40 that night.
He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, charged and granted conditional bail.
Investigators are continuing to appeal to motorists who witnessed the crash or who may have dash cam vision to come forward.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Our condolences to the pillion’s family and friends and our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery for the rider.