Australian Driver Tells Inquest Fatal Crash Victims ‘Are With Him Always’ After Diabetic Episode

An Australian driver who killed five people when his vehicle crashed into outdoor diners during a severe hypoglycemic episode has given evidence at a coronial inquest, describing the incident as an “incomprehensible tragedy” and telling the court those who died are “with him always.”

William Herbert Swale, 69, fronted the Coroners Court of Victoria on Tuesday to answer questions about the November 2023 crash outside The Royal Daylesford Hotel in central Victoria. Swale, who lives with type 1 diabetes, lost control of his vehicle after his blood glucose levels dropped dangerously low, veering into two families who were dining al fresco.

The crash killed Pratibha Sharma, 44, her nine-year-old daughter Anvi, Sharma’s partner Jatin Kumar, 30, their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his 11-year-old son Vihaan. Six others were injured in the collision.

The inquest heard that Swale had not declared his type 1 diabetes to VicRoads, the state’s roads authority, as legally required. Under questioning from senior lawyer Rishi Nathwani, Swale confirmed he had failed to disclose his condition despite undergoing a multi-day educational course on diabetes management when first diagnosed in 1994.

Court documents revealed Swale had spent the weekend before the crash at a clay shooting event in Clunes. He injected himself with insulin before an anticipated meal but could not access food and planned to stop in Daylesford on his drive home to Mount Macedon.

Swale’s continuous blood glucose monitor showed his levels dropped to 2.9 mmol/L before the crash—far below the 8.0 mmol/L threshold he considered safe for driving. When he attempted to buy food at a Daylesford restaurant, he was turned away because the establishment was fully booked.

So, you no longer drive?

— Rishi Nathwani, Senior Lawyer

Swale told the court he had no memory of events after leaving the restaurant. The collision occurred shortly afterward. His last severe hypoglycemic episode had occurred 20 years earlier, in 2003, and was quickly managed with medical assistance.

Swale was initially charged with multiple driving offenses, but a Ballarat magistrate dropped all charges after finding insufficient evidence to convict.

Coroner Dimitria Dubrow issued Swale a certificate protecting his testimony from use in any future legal proceedings, compelling him to give evidence after he sought to be excused on self-incrimination grounds.

The coronial inquiry will examine not only the circumstances of the five deaths but also broader issues including diabetes education for drivers, medical disclosure guidelines, outdoor dining safety, and road safety regulations.

The case has raised significant questions about medical fitness-to-drive requirements and the monitoring of diabetic drivers in Australia. Swale used a continuous blood monitor called Libre Sensor that reported readings to his phone, though the court heard the analysis of his monitoring data was incomplete.