{
  "id": 16001944,
  "title": "Accused 'dead set' he was not driving in crash that killed four",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/accused-dead-set-he-was-not-driving-in-crash-that-killed-four",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T05:18:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-22/jack-bowd-takes-stand-in-newell-highway-fatal-trial/107264520"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jack Bowd has pleaded not guilty to four counts of dangerous driving causing death following a fatal crash on the Newell Highway, south of Dubbo, in September 2024. Bowd insisted he was not driving at the time of the accident, while prosecutors allege he was. The crash resulted in the deaths of four individuals: Bowd's friends Joey Urban, Lochlann Jacobs, and Parkes couple Sue and Graham Tait. Bowd testified he was not behind the wheel when the crash occurred, describing his first memories after the incident. He claims he was sitting in the back of the vehicle with an injured dog when they encountered the crash. The defense claims that Jacobs took over driving before the collision. The Crown alleges the ute was traveling over 130 km/h and attempting to overtake a larger vehicle when it collided head-on with the van. Bowd rejected claims that his memory may be flawed due to excessive alcohol consumption. The judge is set to deliver a verdict in December.",
  "summary": "A 25-year-old man has taken the stand in the Dubbo District Court, where he is on trial after pleading not guilty to dangerous and drink-driving charges over a crash on the Newell Highway that killed four people.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jack Bowd pleads not guilty to four counts of dangerous driving causing death",
    "Bowd claims he was not driving during the fatal September 2024 crash",
    "Prosecutors allege Bowd was behind the wheel, vehicle speeding over 130 km/h"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The dispute over who was behind the wheel places the central focus of the trial on conflicting accounts of driver identity during a high-speed highway collision.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}