A bizarre series of events that began with a man fearing his car had been damaged by bread thrown from the street ended with a pedestrian being dragged 60 metres by the car.
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Casey Smits, 26, has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life following an incident the occurred when he left Wangaratta’s Albion Hotel at 3.55am on October 11 last year.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Williamson said a bread roll was thrown at the man’s car from a group of six drunk men.
“The accused has heard the bang and stopped to check for any damage,” she said.
Smits claimed he was surrounded by the group so he returned to his car and started to drive away.
He stopped when he saw one of the men chase the car and heard at bang on the rear bumper.
Senior Constable Williamson said Smits allegedly reversed quickly into the victim, screeching the tires.
“It’s knocked him to the ground and he’s become trapped under the motor vehicle,” she said,
Smits then allegedly drove forward, dragging the man under the car along the ground for about 60 metres at 10 kiliometres per hour.
The victim was in hospital for four days and needed stitches following injuries to his hip, knee and ankle.
Defence solicitor Andrew Spilva said his client would plead not guilty when the case goes to a hearing.
“He thought that (the victim) had fallen out of the way and didn’t realise someone was under the car,” he said.
“He’s driven forward thinking it was debris.”
The case was adjourned until February.
