Daylesford pub crash charges

William Herbert Swale, a 66-year-old diabetic, has had all charges dismissed in connection with a fatal crash that killed five people in Daylesford, Victoria, last year. Magistrate Guillaume Bailin ruled that the prosecution's evidence was insufficient to prove that Swale's decision to drive was conscious, citing his severe hypoglycaemic episode at the time of the crash. Swale had faced 14 charges, including five counts of culpable driving causing death, after his vehicle struck patrons outside The Royal Daylesford Hotel on November 5, 2023. The Office of Public Prosecutions is reviewing the magistrate's decision, with the potential for direct indictment in a superior court if deemed necessary. The crash claimed the lives of two adults and three children, profoundly impacting their families. The ruling has sparked calls for justice from the victims' families, highlighting the tragic consequences of the incident.