Tycoon's drinking revealed in fatal crash inquest

A property tycoon, Bill Swale, 59, has admitted to consuming champagne and beer before a tragic incident where his vehicle fatally struck five pedestrians. The event occurred on November 5, 2023, when Swale's BMW crashed into an outdoor dining area at the Royal Daylesford Hotel. The victims, identified as Pratibha Sharma, her daughter Anvi, her husband Jatin Kumar, their friend Vivek Bhatia, and his son Vihann, all lost their lives.

Swale was compelled to testify at the Coroner's Court of Victoria, having previously sought to avoid giving evidence. The inquest is examining the circumstances leading up to the crash, particularly Swale's actions and state of health. While toxicology tests revealed no alcohol in his system, Swale confirmed he had champagne with fellow shooters and later consumed beer. He claimed alcohol had little effect on his glucose levels, and he had no recollection of alarms indicating critical blood sugar.

Original charges against Swale, including culpable driving causing death, were previously dismissed. This decision was based on expert evidence suggesting he may have been suffering a severe hypoglycaemic episode, rendering him incapable of rational action. The coronial inquest is expected to provide crucial findings and potential recommendations to prevent similar occurrences.