A man accused of deliberately driving into two "blameless" 12-year-old boys in Mildura's Langtree Mall, Victoria, has been granted bail. Andrew Brien, 56, an auto electrician from Gol Gol, faces seven charges including reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury, and driving in a dangerous manner.
The incident occurred around 11pm on Thursday, August 6, 2026, when the two boys were riding a motorised push bike and were struck by a Ford ute driven by Brien. The prosecution alleged in court that no brakes were applied and no evasive maneuvers were taken before the vehicle hit the boys, traveling at an estimated speed of 79.2 kilometres per hour.
One boy sustained a concussion and a sore arm after being flung 20 metres onto a nearby street, where a pole then landed on him. The other boy, who was allegedly run over by the vehicle, suffered a collapsed lung and required surgery after breaking an arm, a leg, an ankle, his sternum, and multiple ribs.
The court also heard that a business owned by Brien's partner had been targeted in two criminal incidents on June 26 and 27, and on the night of the incident, Brien received a phone call from his partner reporting damage at the business around 10:30pm.
However, the court was told that the two boys were not involved in any offence related to the business or elsewhere. A court representative described the event as "horrific offending, to use one's vehicle as a weapon against two 12-year-old children," and stated, "This incident in its totality is unacceptable."
Brien is scheduled to return to court next week for a bail application and will reappear for a committal mention on December 2, 2026.
Loading comments.