Man faces charges over father’s death

TRAGIC END: The black Kia Sorrento from Sunday night's crash. Picture: John Boom.

by Luke Voogt

A 20-year-old Newcomb man is facing serious charges after allegedly driving a car that rolled and flung his father to his death.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives on Tuesday charged Brandon Gliddon with culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and failing to render assistance after a fatal collision.

Mr Gliddon fronted Geelong Magistrates’ Court during a brief hearing on Wednesday before magistrate Julie Grainger remanded him in custody to appear again via video link on 6 March. He did not apply for bail.

Magistrate Grainger refused a media application to view court documents relating to the case due to Mr Gliddon being young, having a disability and because police had yet to formally interview him.

The charges relate to a collision between a Volkswagen and a Kia Sorrento on Thompson Rd shortly after 9pm on Sunday.

Michael David Gliddon, 41, was hanging off the side of a black Kia Sorrento while son Brandon sped along Thompson Rd about 9pm, police alleged.

The Kia Sorrento collided with the Volkswagen causing the driver to lose control and the car to rollover near APCO North Geelong, flinging Michael Gliddon to his death.

Brandon Gliddon crawled from the wreckage of the Kia and fled the scene before patrolling officers arrested him a short time later, police alleged.

Police took the 20-year-old Newcomb man to University Hospital Geelong with serious injuries and paramedics took the female driver of the Volkswagen to hospital with minor injuries.

Brandon Gliddon had previously been under police guard at University Hospital Geelong and a Barwon Health spokesperson on Monday morning said his condition was stable.

Michael Gliddon was the sixth person to die on the notoriously dangerous Thompson Rd this year.

Thompson Rd has accounted for 25 serious and 46 minor-injury collisions in the past five years, according to VicRoads.

Sunday night’s death brought the Victorian road toll to 245, up 49 on the same time last year.