Melbourne Cup-winning trainer charged over horrific fatal crash
The stables of leading Aussie horse trainer Danny O'Brien have been charged after the death of a track rider in a traffic accident.
A 31-year-old man was killed on March 9 last year when a car struck the horse he was riding across Thirteenth Beach Rd, near Barwon Heads, on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula.
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WorkSafe Victoria have since charged O'Brien Thoroughbreds with a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Awful awful accident.
— Flex (@flexgirl9) March 19, 2021
It alleges O'Brien Thoroughbreds failed to implement a traffic management plan and ensure employees and horses wore high-visibility clothing or equipment.
The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Geelong Magistrates Court on March 25.
O'Brien won the Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare in 2019.
WorkSafe's second charge in last two months
Last month, the Cranbourne Turf Club and trainer Ken Keys were also issued with a series of charges by WorkSafe in relation to the trackwork death of apprentice Mikaela Claridge.
Ken Keys-owned training business Saloon Park faces two charges relating to workplace safety over the 22-year-old's death.
The businesses were represented by lawyers for a filing hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
Claridge was riding a section of Cranbourne Racecourse known as the sand trails when she was thrown from a horse in trackwork on August 30, 2019.
The turf club and Saloon Park are due back in court for a committal mention on May 10.
with AAP
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