A South Australian truck driver has made a brief appearance in court charged over the vehicular manslaughter of a cyclist in the endurance race from Perth to Sydney.
According to news reports, the 36-year-old appeared before a magistrate via a video link on Saturday and was remanded in custody to appear again on April 3. He didn’t apply for bail.
Police will allege the 36-year-old was driving a road train on the Eyre Highway on Thursday (March 21) which struck a cyclist near Madura, about 190km west of the SA border.
Chris Barker, 62, who was taking part in the event, formerly known as the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, died at the scene.
The highway was closed for hours after the incident, with police launching an appeal for information on Thursday.
In a separate incident later the same day, another cyclist in the same event – aged in his 50s – was struck by a passing vehicle near Frasers Range about 100km east of Norseman.
The male rider was taken to Norseman Hospital by St John WA, before he was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.
The event is no longer affiliated with the original Indian Pacific organisers since the death of Mike Hall in 2017.
It is now run as unofficial, unsupported 5475km solo ride with participants and followers keeping tabs on progress and experiences via the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride (Dot Watchers) Facebook group.