A B-double truck driver was in shock after running into the back of an old army vehicle travelling at "tractor speed" along the Hume Freeway, a court has heard.
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The crash at Glenrowan West on the night of March 13 last year caused the military-coloured army vehicle to skid off the freeway and roll over, causing injuries to the driver Graham Arkle.
Beechworth man Michael Elmer, 56, who was driving the B-double, has been committed to stand trial over charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury and unlicensed driving, despite magistrate Peter Dunn warning that "the prosecution have had stronger cases".
Elmer told Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday he would reserve his plea on most of the charges, but his defence barrister John Lavery said his client would plead guilty to failing to stop and render assistance.
Truck driver Gary Chant was in his own vehicle travelling in front of Elmer and had passed the army vehicle heading north on the freeway, when Elmer contacted him on the UHF radio to say he had hit someone.
"It was going real slow. At the time I thought it was a tractor we went past," he told the court.
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Mr Arkle was flown to hospital in Melbourne after the crash, but appeared in court via video link from home on Wednesday.
The crash caused $200,000 worth of damage to his 1964 Alvis Stalwart amphibious vehicle.
On the night of the crash, Mr Arkle was driving the army vehicle at about 80km/h on the Hume Freeway to save petrol and stop the engine revving too much.
"I'm quite used to having to travel at a lower speed," he said.
He had owned the vehicle for about 14 years, making modifications - such as running on gas and allowing two-wheel drive - which he said made it safer and easier to drive.
But it had never been fitted with seatbelts.
"Vehicles that didn't have seatbelts when they were registered, as a history vehicle do not have to have seatbelts," Mr Arkle said.
He had left his home at Drysdale, near Geelong, earlier in the afternoon.
Motorists had called police concerned the old army vehicle was difficult to see on the freeway as the sun went down.
Seymour officer Sergeant Shane Biderman gave evidence that he pulled over Mr Arkle at Avenel at about 8.15pm, saying the right tail light and number plate lights were not working.
The tail light globe could not be changed on the spot and Mr Arkle continued on his journey after speaking with police for about 15 minutes.
Asked how the army vehicle was driving, Sergeant Biderman said "other than noticeably slower than other traffic on the road, it was fine" and that it was "definitely visible".
Mr Lavery said Mr Arkle's vehicle had a width of 2.62 metres and Major Collision Investigation Unit Sergeant Leigh Miller confirmed the legal vehicle width in Victoria in 2.5m, unless the owner has a permit.
