A coroner is set to conduct an inquiry into the tragic deaths of five individuals who were killed when a driver, experiencing a severe hypoglycaemic episode due to type-1 diabetes, crashed into a beer garden at the Royal Daylesford Hotel in central Victoria in November 2023. The victims included Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, 9, and her partner Jatin Kumar, 30, along with their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his 11-year-old son, Vihaan.
William Swale, the driver, reportedly ignored signs indicating dangerously low glucose levels shortly before the incident. Although he faced 14 charges, including five counts of culpable driving causing death, the case against him was dismissed by a magistrate in September 2024, who determined that Swale’s actions were involuntary due to his medical condition. Subsequently, the Office of Public Prosecutions confirmed that no further charges would be filed in relation to the crash.
Coroner Dimitra Dubrow announced that the coronial investigation into the incident has been reopened, and an inquest is scheduled for March 2026. The inquest will explore issues such as the risks associated with outdoor dining and the responsibilities of diabetic individuals while driving. Experts, including a traffic consultant and an endocrinologist, have been contacted to assist with the investigation.
Counsel assisting, Rishi Nathwani KC, indicated that there could be over 60 witnesses, comprising civilians, law enforcement, and medical professionals. Although the coroner has reached out to Swale for a statement, he has chosen to exercise his legal right to remain silent.
The coroner clarified that the inquest will focus on the broader circumstances surrounding the incident rather than re-evaluating the criminal case itself. A directions hearing will be held in the near future to establish the specifics of the inquest’s scope and process.