Truck driver charged 18 years after fatal

crash - Southern Highlands

Wednesday, 12 October 2022 02:00:41 AM

A man has been extradited to NSW, charged over a fatal crash in the Southern
Highlands 18 years ago.

Officers attached to the Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) applied for the extradition of a
59-year-old man after he was taken into custody last Sunday (9 October 2022), by the
Queensland Police Service by virtue of a NSW Police arrest warrant.

The extradition application was granted in Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday

(Monday 10 October 2022), and the man arrived at Sydney Airport shortly before 10pm
yesterday (Tuesday 11 October 2022).

He was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with five offences:

• Dangerous driving occasioning death

• Dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, and
• Cause bodily harm by misconduct (three counts).

The charges relate to a crash in 2004, in which a six-year-old boy – who has now been
identified as Rian Strathdee – died.

Rian was a back-seat passenger in a station wagon which was allegedly struck by a
heavy vehicle while being driven south along the Hume Highway near Sutton Forest
about 9.40pm on Friday 26 November 2004.

Police will allege the man – then aged 42 – was working as a truck driver at the time of
the crash.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court today
(Wednesday 12 October 2022).