A truck driver accused of causing the death of a pedestrian at Maitland last year has been deemed fit to stand trial.
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William Anthony Hall has pleaded not guilty to one count of dangerous driving occasioning death and a back-up charge of negligent driving occasioning death after 62-year-old Kurri Kurri man Alan John Reed was fatally struck on Cessnock Road.
![A pedestrian was hit while walking along Cessnock Road at Maitland in 2022. Picture by Simone De Peak A pedestrian was hit while walking along Cessnock Road at Maitland in 2022. Picture by Simone De Peak](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/tmUaC97GWTfBTvbgiBtbEs/5e6f0314-6d13-4f7c-b769-5c914347e9d4.jpg/r0_0_5040_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Newcastle District Court heard on Thursday that Mr Hall had been deemed fit to face a trial over the charge.
A forensic psychologist had been enlisted to assess Mr Hall after the question of his fitness was raised.
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The court heard that Mr Hall would apply for the trial, expected to take about five days from June 17 next year, be held before a judge alone - without a jury.
According to police, emergency crews were called to the scene at about 6.30am on June 21, 2022, after reports a male pedestrian had been hit by a truck.
Police said the driver immediately stopped and attempted to help, but the 62-year-old died at the scene.
The Hunter Crash Investigation Unit forensically examined the site.
Mr Hall was then charged and granted conditional bail.