Truck driver to face trial over fatal 2024 Bulli Pass crash in Thirroul
The crash occurred at the busy intersection in February 2024. (ABC News)
In short:
A truck driver will face trial over a fatal crash involving his truck and a BMW north of Wollongong.
Mosa Vaimalu pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning the death of Michael Isaako.
What's next?
The trial date is set for 2027.
A truck driver will face trial in 2027 over a crash involving his truck and a BMW that killed one man and left two people seriously injured.
Public prosecutors have charged 41-year-old Mosa Vaimalu with dangerous driving occasioning death over the crash at the intersection of Bulli Pass and Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul in February 2024.
He appeared before Judge Andrew Haesler in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday, where he formally entered pleas of not guilty to the charges and was committed to stand trial.
Judge Haesler set the trial date for May 17, 2027, more than three years after the crash occurred.
Today, the court heard the Crown had listed 22 civilian witnesses in its evidence.
Mr Vaimalu's defence lawyer, public defender Talitha Hennessy, told the court only a handful of the Crown's listed witnesses observed the driving in dispute, with the rest just witnesses to the crash.
'Dangerous driving' allegedly led to crash
In court documents, prosecutors alleged Mr Vaimalu was driving his Hino Pantech truck in a dangerous manner ahead of the crash.
His truck allegedly collided with the BMW at the busy intersection north of Wollongong in the early afternoon of February 16.
Bulli Pass connects the Princes Motorway to Lawrence Hargrave Drive, which leads to Wollongong's northern suburbs.
The crash occurred at a busy overpass connecting Bulli Pass to Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul. (Facebook: John Dutchy Ninness)
One side of the truck was ripped off in the impact, with debris observed spilling from the overpass onto the street below.
Two passengers in Mr Vaimalu's truck were ejected from the vehicle in the collision.
One man, 43-year-old Michael Isaako, died at the scene, while the other male passenger was seriously injured.
The woman driving the BMW was trapped in her car.
Following a massive emergency response, the male passenger, car driver and Mr Vaimalu were all airlifted to hospital for treatment.
Mr Vaimalu is also facing charges of dangerous driving occasioning the grievous bodily harm of the second truck passenger and the driver of the BMW.
He was seriously injured in the crash and underwent surgery himself.
He was first arrested at Colyton in Western Sydney and charged at Penrith Police Station in March 2024.
Mr Vaimalu has been on conditional bail since, and last month pleaded not guilty in the local court.
Court documents state that some witness statements remain outstanding, and the matter will return for a readiness hearing in March 2027.