Man with coughing defence has coughing fit

A Victorian truck driver who claims he had a coughing fit before a fatal road collision has had a coughing fit in court.

Kenneth Laurence Pillar, 54, of Camperdown, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

But before he entered his plea at the South Australian District Court on Monday, Pillar suffered an intense fit of coughing and wheezing that disrupted proceedings for several minutes.

"I hear some sounds of coughing and distress coming from the dock area," Judge Simon Stretton said before Pillar entered the courtroom.

The sheriff's officer said there was a problem: "He's in no position to come out."

Pillar soon recovered and stood in the dock for his arraignment.

"Would you like a glass of water?" Judge Stretton asked.

"No," Pillar replied.

At an earlier hearing Pillar said he had a coughing episode before his truck veered into an oncoming car near Murray Bridge in South Australia in June, killing 61-year-old schoolteacher Maria Dowdell.

His lawyer said the fit caused Pillar to black out at the wheel of his B-double.

Pillar, who is on bail, will return to the same court for a directions hearing on December 10.

His girlfriend Belinda Thornton, who was in the truck at the time of the crash, is charged with committing acts to endanger life.