A 48-year-old man has pleaded guilty in Victoria's County Court to two charges following a car crash in Mildura that pinned a 72-year-old pedestrian to his own vehicle, resulting in the victim losing his leg.
The elderly man was forced to have his leg amputated after he was trapped against his own ute by the accused's car which was legally parked in a Walnut Avenue bike lane in November 2021.
Darren Towle, represented by barrister Stephanie Gillahan, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
At a Mildura Magistrates' Court hearing last year, police alleged Towle veered into the bike lane and crushed the victim's body against his ute resulting in the life-changing injury.
In January 2022, prosecutor Sergeant Matt Pardon told the Magistrates' Court that methamphetamine and alcohol were present in Towle's blood at the time of the offence.
His blood-alcohol level was between 0.051 and 0.072.
Towle spent 389 days in custody before he was granted bail on December 5.
Judge Amanda Chambers said she would extend Towle's bail period until 10:30am on March 30 when he would be sentenced.
In the meantime, the judge requested Towle, who chose to have the hearing not heard in Koori Court, be assessed for a community corrections order.
Barrister John Goetz is representing the crown.
