Kenji Aoki extradited over 2019 Hume Hwy car crash involving five Canberrans

Kenji Aoki, 40, has been extradited from the ACT to face charges in NSW. Photo: South Coast Police District.

A Canberra man has appeared in court after being extradited to NSW to face charges laid over a crash involving two cars and four other ACT residents on the Southern Tablelands several years ago.

NSW Police said emergency services were called to the Hume Highway at Marulan about midday on 7 October 2019.

They said three people were travelling south in a Hyundai i30 when it was hit from behind by a Toyota Corolla and both cars crashed into trees on a median strip.

The 27-year-old woman in the Corolla’s front passenger seat suffered multiple fractures and was airlifted to Canberra Hospital while the 24-year-old driver of the Hyundai suffered foot and leg fractures and was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital.

His two passengers, aged 23 and 24, received minor injuries.

The then-38-year-old driver of the Corolla, Kenji Aoki, was taken to Goulburn hospital for mandatory testing.

ACT Policing arrested Mr Aoki, now aged 40, on 12 January 2022 and he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court where an application to extradite him to NSW was granted. He was charged with an outstanding warrant once he arrived at the Queanbeyan Police Station.

Mr Aoki appeared in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday, 19 January, charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle, driving while suspended and failing to appear after acknowledging bail.

He had entered guilty pleas to the first three charges, not the fresh failing to appear charge, when the matter was heard in Goulburn Local Court in September 2020.

On that day he had also been scheduled to be sentenced in November and his bail had been continued for him to live in Belconnen.

On Wednesday, Mr Aoki made no application for bail and it was refused.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie asked for an updated sentencing assessment report and adjourned the matter to 2 March for sentencing.