A Sydney driver allegedly hit a cyclist, then reversed over him before fleeing the scene of the fatal crash, police say.
Vonny Ho, 47, allegedly struck cyclist Raymond Rawiri, 66, from Neutral Bay, while driving in the back streets of Lidcombe shortly before 5pm on Tuesday. She is accused of then reversing over Mr Rawiri, before driving away.
Ms Ho, who works for a shipping company, attended Auburn police station on Friday. She was arrested and charged with failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, and both dangerous and negligent driving causing death.
In Parramatta Bail Court yesterday, police prosecutor Sergeant Scott Thomson opposed bail, noting Ms Ho was facing ‘‘quite a serious allegation’’ and took three days to surrender.
‘‘Police allege she has purposefully reversed back over the cyclist before failing to stop,’’ he said.
But the application for bail from Ms Ho’s lawyer, Frank Ngo, was granted, with a $10,000 surety posted through her husband and on the condition she will report to police twice a week.
Mr Ngo said his client, an Australian citizen who has lived here since 2003, realised she was the driver of the car only after watching the news on Thursday night.
‘‘The following morning she approached me and we went to Auburn,’’ the lawyer said. ‘‘We say that there is no failure to assist.’’
Ms Ho’s matter was adjourned to Burwood Local Court on May 16.
Outside court, Ms Ho shook her head when reporters asked if she'd seen the man on the ground following the incident and said she thought she'd hit a piece of metal. "I'm so sorry," she said.
Meanwhile, a man charged with dangerous driving causing death after a tradesman was killed in a multivehicle crash on Sydney’s M4 has been refused bail.
Irishman Francis Shanley, 36, died in the pile-up involving at least eight cars and a truck at the Church Street off-ramp in Mays Hill before 6am on Thursday.
Police arrested Francis Omigie, 53, on Friday and charged him with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death and two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
In Parramatta Bail Court yesterday, Mr Omigie’s lawyer Eiad Diyab said: ‘‘The accused, I’m told, had some . .. mechanical problems and his intention was to change lanes to the left and unfortunately [this] has resulted in a pile-up. There was no damage to his vehicle. In his mind, it wasn’t clear ... he was party to the accident.’’
He said Mr Omigie, who migrated to Australia from Nigeria, was very distressed.
Police allege the Ropes Crossing man, who was driving a Toyota Echo, changed lanes and then stopped, causing multiple collisions. The victim’s ute was hit by a truck carrying kegs of beer.
Magistrate George Zdenkowski yesterday refused bail.
Mr Omigie will reappear via video link at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday. with Laura Chung, AAP