A Wagga man has admitted to a hit-and-run that injured five people, including a pregnant woman and her two-year-old son who was left fighting for his life.
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Luke Cousley pleaded guilty to four charges in Wagga Local Court this week, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and failing to stop and assist with a crash.
The 25-year-old also pleaded guilty to not complying with a direction to stop a vehicle and driving while disqualified.
The prosecution withdrew a back-up charge of negligent driving.
The case has now been moved to Wagga District Court.
According to documents tendered to the court, Cousley was spotted driving in a dangerous manner around Tolland by various witnesses on March 15.
Around 1.05pm Cousley was pulled over by police.
Cousley waited until the officer was just one metre away from his vehicle before speeding off.
Just minutes later Cousley’s Toyota Hilux collided with the passenger side of a white Commodore at the Bruce and Raye streets intersection.
Among the injured was a two-year-old boy, who was airlifted to the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick in a critical condition.
Tyre marks revealed Cousley braked at least 15 metres before the t-bone impact.
The facts state an expert witness estimated the Hilux was travelling somewhere between 71 and 83km/h prior to the skidding, which saw the car mount a nature strip with major damage.
An eight-month-old girl and two 28-year-old women, including a pregnant mother, were also taken to hospital with varying injuries.
The two-year-old suffered a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding, among other injuries.
Cousley fled from the scene after the impact, with a member of the public chased after him and onlookers yelled “get him”.
Police eventually found Cousley hiding in a nearby garden shed.
Crown solicitor Bella Maxwell-Williams told the court the facts were now finally complete, with the exception of additional information regarding the injuries of the two-year-old.
Ms Maxwell-Williams said there were still outstanding medical reports which would need to be tendered to the court.
Cousley remains behind bars and will appear in court again on November 17, when a date for sentencing is expected to be set.