A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND woman driving a specially designed van accelerated "harshly" to get over a speed bump in the Charlestown Square car park, veered to the right and hit a number of pedestrians and parked cars, running over and killing an 87-year-old man.
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Julia Aiken, 71, of Hamilton South, appeared in Belmont Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning death and negligent driving over the tragic crash that ultimately claimed the life of Frank O'Donnell.
Aiken will next appear in Belmont Local Court in October for sentence.
Aiken, who is represented by solicitor John Anthony, has a physical disability and is primarily wheelchair bound, according to an agreed statement of facts.
She was behind the wheel of a van, specially designed so that Aiken can drive from her wheelchair, which is secured into the vehicle by a mechanical device, on the morning of October 3 last year when she drove into the Charlestown Square car park.
She was on level two of the car park, outside the entrance doors to the shopping centre, when she stopped at a pedestrian crossing to allow Mr O'Donnell and his wife to cross.
Aiken's van was near a speed bump when she stopped at the crossing and when she accelerated again to drive over it her car took off harshly and veered to the right towards Mr O'Donnell and a number of parked cars.
The van first hit a woman who was putting groceries in her boot, knocking her to the ground.
The car then impacted heavily with Mr O'Donnell, knocking him underneath the vehicle, according to an agreed statement of facts.
The van continued on, hitting another couple of cars and forcing them sideways before coming to a stop.
Mr O'Donnell was trapped under the vehicle and several people came to his aid, lifting the vehicle up so that he could be pulled from underneath it.
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital and remained in intensive care for four weeks before he died on November 1.
Aiken gave an interview to police, telling them she had accelerated to get over the speed bump at which point her vehicle started to veer to the right.
She was asked whether she was able to brake or had her foot stuck on the accelerator but said she was unsure.
