A court has been told a truck driver charged over a fatal crash near Dubbo in Central West New South Wales told witnesses and police differing accounts of what happened.
Robert Crockford, 50, is facing two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death as well as eight other offences.
Mr Crockford was driving the semi-trailer when it ploughed into several cars stopped at the roadworks on the Newell Highway near Dubbo last month, killing a young couple and injuring several others.
He appeared via video link at Dubbo Local Court today and was refused bail.
The court was told Mr Crockford told ambulance officers after the crash that his accelerator became jammed and his brakes failed, but that he later told police in a recorded interview that he had a coughing fit and blacked out.
Prosecutor Mark Davies also told the court the accused had a significant driving history, including having his licence previously suspended in NSW twice and once in Queensland, as well as numerous speeding offences.
The Crown said the 50-year-old posed a risk of not reappearing in court and was a risk to the community.
Mr Crockford, who was in a wheelchair after sustaining injuries from the crash, moaned in pain during the hearing and began to cry when his defence lawyer spoke of his family.
In arguing for his bail application, his defence said Mr Crockford was in "serious distress" since the accident and had not received medical treatment since being discharged from hospital.
The Magistrate agreed the truck driver posed a risk and refused the application.
Mr Crockford will face court again in April.
