"I need answers": Devastated widow vows to stage hunger strike
<p>A woman who lost her husband and son in the devastating crash at a pub in Victoria last year has vowed to stage a protest, just days after the driver of the car was dismissed of all charges. </p>
<p>In November 2023, 66-year-old William Swale was behind the wheel of his BMW when he suffered a medical episode, crashing into the beer garden of The Royal Daylesford Hotel, killing five people. </p>
<p>Charges against Mr Swale were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/charges-dropped-over-crash-that-killed-five-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> on Thursday, after a magistrate ruled the evidence against him was “so weak”.</p>
<p>Mr Swale's lawyers successfully argued his actions were not voluntary because he was in a state of severe hypoglycaemia, as he is an insulin-dependent diabetic. </p>
<p>After hearing that the charges were dropped, Ruchi Bhatia, whose husband Vivek, their son Vihaan, 11, were killed as a result of the crash, says the ruling is as though she has lost them all over again. </p>
<p>Ruchi and her nine-year-old son were also injured in the crash, but survived after spending months in hospital. </p>
<p>Speaking for the first time since the deadly incident, Bhatia expressed her pain and said it feels like her life has been torn apart again, recalling the horrifying moment she woke in hospital to learn her husband and eldest son did not make it.</p>
<p>“Still today I don’t believe that they are not with me,” she told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/daylesford-beer-garden-crash-victim-ruchi-bhatia-plans-protest-after-driver-charges-dismissed-c-16164598" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>.</p>
<p>“We were just having fun, we were outside, we were all together and the next moment they were gone and I’m never going to see them again.”</p>
<p>In court on Thursday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin found the prosecution case was flawed and decided not to commit Swale to stand criminal trial, as all charges were dropped and Mr Swale walked out of court a free man. </p>
<p>Despite the ruling, Bhatia is demanding answers and says her fight for justice is far from over.</p>
<p>“He stopped the car in the middle of the road — why did he start his engine again? I need answers for that,” she said.</p>
<p>Bhatia and her family are planning to protest, which will include a hunger strike. </p>
<p>While Bhatia said she knew the protest wouldn't bring back her family, she said they needed justice to move on from the tragedy. </p>
<p><em>Image credits: 7News </em></p>
