A truck driver who knew he had sleep apnoea when he caused a car crash that killed a four-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the crime.
Court documents reveal Blake Corney died instantly from catastrophic head injuries when the truck ploughed into his family's car, which had stopped in a line of traffic at a red light on the Monaro Highway in Canberra.
The family were on their way to a toy shop at the time of the accident.
Today the boy's family watched on in the ACT Supreme Court as Akis Livas, 57, pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death.
Livas had been working as a truck driver for a local Canberra company at the time of the accident.
Prosecutors said Livas originally claimed that the car had cut him off, but later evidence showed he told medical staff he had blacked out.
Prosecutor Anthony Williamson told the court Livas has been put on notice that he had sleep apnoea, and knew he should not be driving.
Justice Michael Elkaim quizzed Livas's lawyer Paul Edmunds about whether he accepted that a prison term was inevitable.
Mr Edmonds conceded that it was.
Justice Elkaim told the court that the seriousness of Livas's offending was obvious.
"A person who knows he is prone to falling asleep at the wheel is pretty up there," he said.
But Mr Edmonds disputed just how aware his client was of the situation.
"I take issue with that, whether he knew or was told expressly not to drive," he said.
He noted Livas was cleared for a commercial driver's licence prior to the accident.
Livas has been free since he was charged, but today was taken into custody, after bail was formally refused.
A sentence date has yet to be set.
