By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man accused of killing a mother and daughter in a two-car crash outside Lighthouse Christian College was allegedly intoxicated and disqualified from driving at the time, according to police charge sheets.
Thomas Charles Adamson, 26, of Devon Meadows, wore a neckbrace and sat in a wheelchair during the filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 November.
Several times, he dabbed his eyes with a bunched-up tissue as he clutched a water bottle between his thighs.
Adamson faces charges of culpable driving causing the death of 14-year-old Lighthouse student Xinyu Yuan and her mother Mei-Li Dai.
Ms Dai and Xinyu were pulling out in a car onto South Gippsland Highway, Devon Meadows when struck by an oncoming vehicle on the evening of Wednesday, 9 August.
Adamson was also charged with driving while disqualified, under the influence, and with an alleged blood-alcohol reading of between .12 and .165 at the time.
He was also charged with dangerous driving causing Xinyu and Ms Dai’s deaths.
By consent of prosecutors, Adamson’s bail conditions were varied so he was no longer required to report to a police station three times a week.
It was also varied to allow him to communicate with his girlfriend, who has been called as a prosecution witness.
Since the crash, VicRoads introduced a trial speed-limit reduction on the same section of highway.
Adamson was bailed to appear for committal mention at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 25 January.
