Evidence at the coronial inquiry into the deadly crash in front of the Royal Hotel in November 2023 indicates that at the time the Royal did not have a valid outdoor dining permit.
William Swale, who has type 1 diabetes, had a hypoglycaemic episode immediately before the catastrophic accident while driving on Albert Street. He subsequently lost control of his car and crashed into dinners on the lawn area in front of the Royal Hotel
Five people Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, nine, partner Jatin Kumar, 30, their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11, were killed. Six others were injured.
Ron Torres, Hepburn Shire Council director of development and community, told the inquiry that the Royal did not have an active outdoor dinning permit when the accident occurred.
According to Mr Torres, the Royal’s permit had expired in July 2023 following an extension from June 2022. The Council contacted them in September and the Royal applied for a renewal. No permit had subsequently been issued prior to the accident.
According to Mr Torres evidence, this meant that when the accident occurred the Royal Hotel had no formal permission to have equipment or outdoor tables and chairs at the location of the accident.
Council subsequently put up rock barriers on Albert Street and reduced the speed limit to 40km per hour through the centre of Daylesford. With funding from the black spot program, Albert Street will be closed and the area will be redeveloped as public open space.
The coronial inquiry is ongoing.
