A Victorian man who crashed into a maxi-cab will face trial over the death of a passenger strapped in a wheelchair in the taxi.
Kevin Duong on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of David Dang, 18, at Clayton, in Melbourne's southeast, in July 2019.
Duong, 26, who appeared via video link before Melbourne Magistrates Court, was also accused of careless driving and failing to give way as he turned right at an intersection.
Magistrate Peter Reardon committed the Noble Park man to stand trial.
The maxi-cab driver, Lovejeet Singh, said he had less than two seconds to hit the brakes before Duong's car crashed into him.
"There was smoke everywhere inside the taxi. I thought there could be a fire," Mr Singh told the court.
"I tried to move (Mr Dang) but the belts were too tight."
The court heard Mr Dang had muscular dystrophy, an ultimately fatal disease which results in the body's muscles becoming weaker over time.
Footage taken within the taxi that was played in court showed Mr Dang slumped in his wheelchair following the crash.
Defence lawyer Alan Marshall argued the footage also showed Mr Singh had failed to correctly apply Mr Dang's seatbelt and that this contributed to the teenager's death.
Mr Singh denied this.
Forensic pathologist Heinrich Bouwer said the teenager died from respiratory failure, with scans revealing extensive bruising on Mr Dang's chest.
"He couldn't breathe properly," Mr Bouwer said.
Duong, who was granted conditional bail, will next face the Victorian County Court for a directions hearing on April 8.
