A driver who killed five people after failing to give way on a busy highway at Strathmerton has entered a plea in court.
Christopher Dylan Joannidis, 30, on Thursday fronted the County Court in Melbourne where he entered pleas of guilty to five counts of dangerous driving causing death.
Five people were killed in the April 20, 2023, crash along the Murray Valley Hwy at Strathmerton.
Court documents state Joannidis, the driver of a Mercedes sedan, failed to give way at the intersection of Labuan Rd and the Murray Valley Hwy, instead crossing over and colliding with a Nissan Navara ute.
The Nissan spun out of control and crashed into a B-double truck, killing all five people inside.
Cobram’s Debbie Markey, 60, and four international workers, all aged in their 20s — Pin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Wai Yan Lam and Zih-Yao Chen all died in the crash.
Joannidis and his female passenger sustained minor injuries, while the truck driver was hospitalised with migraines.
Joannidis was stopped by police about 40 minutes before the crash for travelling at 118km/h in a 100km/h zone, court documents state.
He also initially returned a positive oral fluid test for cannabis, although a follow-up test was negative.
Joannidis’ barrister Paul Smallwood on Thursday said his client would undergo a psychiatric assessment ahead of his plea hearing because of his complex issues.
The report would not be available until November 15, Mr Smallwood said.
A one-day plea hearing was booked for November 27 with Joannidis’ bail extended to his next court date.
– with AAP