THE final charge against a Glen Waverley truck driver, who went missing for 30 hours after being involved in a fatal accident near Hamilton, has been dropped.
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Bryce Edward Peterson, 51, of Glen Waverley, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court for a committal mention last September and indicated he would enter a guilty plea on a charge of failing to render assistance at an accident where someone was seriously injured or killed.
Two other charges were withdrawn at that time.
Mr Peterson's case was adjourned to a hearing in the Warrnambool County Court and it was during that hearing that a county court judge questioned the strength of the prosecution case.
That led Warrnambool solicitor Adam Bellman, of South West District Legal, to seek the Office Of Public Prosecutions to assess the case.
This week the OPP dropped the last charge.
Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives charged Mr Peterson following the fatal collision involving a four-wheel drive and a truck at 6.05am on February 9 last year on the Glenelg Highway, east of Hamilton.
A 26-year-old Millicent man, the driver of the four-wheel drive, died at the scene.
He had veered into the path of the truck driven by Mr Peterson, who was found to be at no fault by investigators.
A passenger in the four-wheel-drive, a 17-year-old Millicent boy, received life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
Mr Peterson was not at the accident scene when police attended which led to officers conducting intensive forensic investigations on his truck.
He was found on a property near Penshurst about 30 hours after the crash.
Tests conducted for drugs and alcohol were clear.
Mr Bellman said his client was pleased that the criminal case had been resolved completely in his favour.
Mr Peterson previously said he left the accident scene disorientated after suffering burns.
“Mr Peterson has been waiting to learn his fate for more than 12 months,” Mr Bellman said.
“We are pleased the OPP has discontinued the charge and the matter has been finalised in the Warrnambool County Court this week.
“Mr Peterson feels terribly sorry for both men involved in the accident and their families.”
