Coroner to hold inquest into Victorian pub crash that killed five

A coroner will hold an inquest into the deaths of five people who were struck and killed when a diabetic driver ploughed into a beer garden.

Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, 9, and partner Jatin Kumar, 30, and their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11, all died in the November 2023 collision in central Victoria.

They were among patrons sitting at the Royal Daylesford Hotel's beer garden when William Swale, a type-1 diabetic, suffered a severe hypoglycaemic episode and crashed into them.

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Prosecutors claimed Swale had ignored warning signs about his declining glucose levels and was negligent in driving from 5.36pm that evening.

He was charged with 14 offences, including five counts of culpable driving causing death, but a magistrate dismissed the case against him in September 2024 after finding Swale's actions were involuntary. 

The Office of Public Prosecutions in November confirmed Swale would not face further charges over the Daylesford crash. 

Coroner Dimitra Dubrow today said the coronial investigation had been reopened and an inquest into the five deaths will be held in March 2026.

The scope of the inquest is yet to be determined, although Dubrow flagged outdoor dining risks and safe driving by diabetic drivers will be among the issues examined.

A traffic expert and endocrinologist have already been contacted to provide statements to the court, the coroner said.

Counsel assisting Rishi Nathwani KC confirmed there could be more than 60 witnesses in the coronial brief, including civilians, police officers and medical experts. 

Swale was contacted by the coroner but had so far exercised his legal right not to provide a statement, Nathwani said.

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He told the court it was not in dispute that Swale suffered a severe hypoglycaemic episode at the time of the collision.

Dubrow said the inquest would not "rehash" the criminal case but the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be considered before any findings are made.

A further directions hearing will be held in coming months to finalise the scope of the inquest.