Taxi driver gives evidence in Hamilton fatal hit-and-run case

The trial of 54-year-old Hamilton man Dale Kennett, who has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop after an accident, continued in Warrnambool County Court on Monday.

Victoria police major collision investigation unit detectives laid the charges after an incident on March 10 last year in which a pedestrian was struck by a Nissan Pulsar in Henry Court just after 3am.

The victim, 48-year-old Hamilton man Jason Young, died at the accident scene.

On Monday, Hamilton taxi driver John Mirchen told the court he had observed a silver vehicle drive "straight over the top" of the victim, who was lying on the ground.

He said the vehicle "rocked" as it drove over the body, which rolled about two times.

He told the court the vehicle continued to accelerate, turned left out of Henry Court and into Dempster Drive.

Mr Mirchen said he had dropped Mr Young and another man off at the Henry Court address before the incident and that be believed they were intoxicated.

The witness said he had observed Mr Young lying on the driveway as a second man yelled and punched the roof of the Nissan Pulsar which was parked at the property.

He said he had then observed the Nissan reverse before changing gears to go forward.

Mr Mirchen said he could see the body on the ground because his headlights were shining directly on the victim.

He said he did not get out of his car as he was shaken, nervous and "couldn't believe what I'd just seen".

"I realised I needed to go and get help and get out of that situation before my health was impacted," Mr Mirchen said.

The taxi driver said he had started driving to a police station to get help but saw officers had intercepted the silver vehicle on the side of the road.

He said he stopped and told police what had happened.

Mr Mirchen said police told him to "make certain that that car doesn't leave".

"I went over there and said (to Mr Kennett) 'hand me your keys' and he did," he said.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Moore on Friday told the court that police would allege Mr Kennett told them that he was sleeping in his vehicle, was scared of being attacked by the resident and when he drove off, he hit something and thought he may have run over a wheelie bin.

Barrister Campbell Thomson, for Mr Kennett, questioned whether anyone in his client's position would have been able to see someone lying across the driveway.

The trial will continue on Tuesday.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: