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Driver faces court over fatal crash

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In court: The driver involved in the fatal crash that killed two people at Echuca earlier this month has faced court for the first time. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The driver charged over a fatal collision at Echuca earlier this month has faced court for the first time.

Jake Cartledge, 23, of Echuca, appeared briefly in Echuca Magistrates’ Court in a filing hearing.

He is charged with two counts of driving in a dangerous manner causing death.

Mr Cartledge was the driver of a car involved in a fatal crash on January 14 that killed a Moama woman, 26, and an Echuca boy, 11.

The vehicle in which the three were travelling was on the Murray Valley Hwy when it left the road and struck a tree near Mr Terrick Rd just after 12.30pm.

Mr Cartledge was dressed in a white shirt as he appeared online in a video court link for the matter, which lasted only about 10 minutes.

During the court appearance, prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Bradford asked for a longer than usual amount of time before Mr Cartledge next appeared in court so police could do more investigations.

“Because of the nature of the offence, police seek an engineering report of the vehicle, so we need a longer period,” he said.

Mr Cartledge was committed to next appear in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court in May for a committal mention.

No pleas have been entered to either of the charges.

Magistrate Russell Kelly extended Mr Cartledge’s bail, which includes a condition that he not drive a vehicle.

In court: The driver involved in the fatal crash that killed two people at Echuca earlier this month has faced court for the first time. Photo by Aidan Briggs