Chapman Valley Road fatal crash: Darryl James Andrews pleads not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death

A Yuna man has pleaded not guilty over a fatal crash that killed a cement truck driver when two heavy haulage vehicles collided on Chapman Valley Road in April. Darryl James Andrews appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to one charge of dangerous driving occasioning death. The 51-year-old man will reappear in the same court on November 17 and his personal bail has been renewed. The crash occurred when a cement truck and a tractor towing a seeder collided on Chapman Valley Road about 5.20am on April 28 near Nobla-Rockwell and Balla-Whelarra roads in Yuna. Major crash officers investigated after the 51-year-old cement truck driver received critical injuries and died at the scene. Police said at the time that the 51-year-old man driving the tractor was uninjured and a 20-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the cement truck, was taken to Geraldton Health Campus for treatment for shock. Major crash investigation squad Det-Sgt Kevin Wisbey said the tractor was allegedly towing farming machinery and part of the investigation was to determine whether the load was oversize. “It was a New Holland tractor towing an air seeder and a seeder bar,” he said. Det-Sgt Wisbey said police were alleging the 51-year-old Yuna man was at fault but could not comment on the specifics while it was before court.