Shannon Cox: Former Collingwood Football Club player granted bail over double fatal crash

Former Collingwood player Shannon Cox has been granted bail for his role in a double fatality in the Wheatbelt region, with a combined $40,000 surety and personal undertaking. The 38-year-old was charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death over the head-on collision in Cooljarloo, about 170km north of Perth, on June 7. Following weeks behind bars and a delayed bail hearing caused by technical issues and flooding at the Perth Magistrate’s Court, Mr Cox finally appeared via video link from Hakea Prison. He sat with his head bowed as Magistrate Andrew Matthews read him the charges and names of the two women who died in the crash. Prosecutors did not oppose bail for the Geraldton man, who was allegedly driving his Toyota Prado on Brand Highway when he collided with a Volvo road train towing two trailers and a Suzuki Ignis. Inside the Suzuki were close friends Thelma Clausen, 82, and Coral Senior, 83, who both died at the scene. The 31-year-old truck driver was not injured. Mr Cox also escaped unscathed, but paramedics treated his 12-year-old daughter, who had been in the car at the time, for minor injuries. The court was told that Major Crash officers were handling the State’s case and were still waiting for several reports to be completed. Mr Cox was granted bail and is due before Perth Magistrates Court again on August 8. Until then, the ex-AFL player must attend Geraldton Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as part of stringent bail conditions. Mr Cox played 25 games for Collingwood between 2005 and 2009, having been taken as a rookie, before suddenly retiring ahead of the 2010 season, citing a loss of passion for the game. He then took his talent to country football, where he most recently played for Rovers in the Great Northern Football League in 2022. Kojonup was born, and Mr Cox played for Donnybrook, Quairading, and the Collie Eagles for 11 years as he moved around the State. He made headlines in 2022 after a brawl with another man in the carpark of Geraldton Recreation Ground on the day of his club’s preliminary final clash. It resulted in him being suspended for two matches and missing the Rovers’ grand final.