A 47-year-old Narre Warren man who allegedly struck and killed a 68-year-old, retired retail worker from Wonthaggi, on Sunday afternoon, March 2 this year, was allegedly so drunk he didn’t know he’d crashed into the woman and her friend’s dog.

The critically injured local woman, Heather Mills, was taken to hospital but later died of her injuries. The dog died at the scene.

The incident happened in Campbell Street Wonthaggi where Ms Mills was taking a friend’s dog for a walk.

Sampath Jayasundara, who appeared by video link at the Latrobe Valley Magistrate’s Court on Friday, July 25, to face three charges; one of culpable driving causing death, one of failing to stop after being involved in a fatal collision and another of failing to render assistance, allegedly recorded a blood/alcohol reading of 0.26 at the time, more than five times the legal limit.

Mr Jayasundara has pleaded guilty to the charge of culpable driving causing death, but according to his lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, he is taking issue with the lesser but still serious charges of failing to stop and failing to render assistance, because he was simply too drunk to know his car had struck the victim.

Mr Hargreaves said his client had no issue with the fact that he didn’t stop and render assistance but maintained that not all of Section 61(3) of the Road Safety Act (1986) was made out, specifically (b) that “the driver of the motor vehicle knows or ought reasonably to have known that the accident had occurred and had resulted in a person being killed or suffering serious injury”.

Mr Hargreaves said his client’s very high blood/alcohol reading was consistent with him falling asleep and crossing to the wrong side of the road, but that chest-worn CCTV police video supported the claim that Mr Jayasundara didn’t know anyone had been struck and injured.

These matters are yet to be resolved, and the case is due to return to the Latrobe Valley Magistrate’s Court on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Mr Jayasundara’s bail has been extended to that date.