A man is set to be extradited from Queensland and arrive in Sydney on Tuesday night following a fatal car crash in the Southern Highlands, 18 years ago.
The 59-year-old was taken into custody on Sunday after Queensland Police found him allegedly responsible for the crash which killed six-year-old boy Rian Stathdee.
The man appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, where officers from the crash investigation unit applied for his extradition to New South Wales.
The boy who died was sitting in the back of a station wagon when it was allegedly struck by a heavy vehicle while driving along the Hume Highway near Sutton Forest at about 9.40pm on November 26, 2004.
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The car Rian was in travelled 40 metres down an embankment, rolling several times. The six-year-old died at the scene.
The truck driver, aged 42 at the time, allegedly failed to stop at the crash scene.
“Inquiries at the time were unable to identify the vehicle and driver and, following an inquest in 2006, the Coroner could not determine an at-fault vehicle or driver,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“Since that time, further information has come to light and, in September 2022, a warrant for the man’s arrest was issued.”
Rian’s father – then aged 45 – was airlifted to Prince of Wales Hospital with neck injuries, while Rian’s brother – then aged 11 – was taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead with facial injuries, cuts and bruising.
His mother – then aged 46 – who was driving at the time, also suffered extensive cuts and bruising.
Police have alleged the man found in Queensland was working as a truck driver at the time of the crash.
Source: Sky News
