A truck driver who managed to accrue $128,000 worth of traffic fines in one year, nearly hit a truck before crashing head-on with a car, a court has heard.
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A truck driver swerved his vehicle towards another truck before over-correcting and crashing head-on with a car, a court has heard.
Wirihana Tatana, 49, was driving a semi-trailer in Boundary Road, Derrimut, about 12.40pm on July 16 when he swerved his vehicle towards another truck, over-corrected, and collided with a car on the other side of the road, his bail application at Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.
The driver of the car, a 54-year-old woman, suffered arm and leg fractures, the court was told.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Kilpatrick, of the major collision investigation unit, said Mr Tatana was involved in an incident with another truck driver moments before and moved into the right lane to pull up beside the other driver.
Detective Sergeant Kilpatrick said Mr Tatana tried to swerve towards the other truck and then over-corrected and swerved over the other side of the road and into the path of the car.
Mr Tatana, a New Zealand international, is charged with causing serious injury, possessing a drug of dependence and driving with a suspended licence.
The court heard he had previously accrued 194 traffic infringements and fines totalling $128,000 over a one-year period.
Detective Sergeant Kilpatrick said police opposed Mr Tatana's bail application for fears he would continue driving if freed from custody.
"Is it too late if he is going to to jump in a truck again and this next time kill someone?" Detective Sergeant Kilpatrick said.
The court heard police found cannabis in Mr Tatana's truck and that he tested positive to methylamphetamine in an initial blood test, although a secondary test was negative.
Magistrate John Doherty remanded Mr Tatana, of no fixed address, in custody so his bail application could continue on Friday.
