By Faye Wheeler
A truck driver charged after a fatal seven-vehicle crash near Dubbo has been refused bail.
Robert Crockford, 50, sat in a wheelchair as he faced Dubbo Local Court via video link on Tuesday morning.
He is charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and related charges.
Hannah Ferguson, 19, of Gulargambone and her boyfriend, Reagen Skinner died in the crash on January 16.
Truck driver Robert Crockford has been refused bail over the fatal crash.Credit: Facebook
Mr Crockford, of Eagleby in Queensland, was arrested on Friday when he was discharged from hospital.
On Tuesday the Crown opposed bail, submitting there were unacceptable risks of failing to appear, and of endangering the safety of the community.
The matters were serious and represented a high degree of moral culpability should the accused be convicted, the Crown said.
The case included dashcam footage, which allegedly showed no signs of slowing, and the ferocity of the impact, the Crown said.
Hannah Ferguson and Reagen Skinner died at the scene of the crash on the Newell Highway in January.Credit: SEVEN NEWS
The Crown also submitted there were conflicting statements from the accused, who allegedly told paramedics his brakes did not work, and at a later date allegedly said he suffered from a coughing fit or blackout.
The maximum penalty for dangerous driving occasioning death was 10 years in jail, the Crown said.
The defence questioned the strength of the case, submitting that while on the facts Mr Crockford was the driver of the vehicle, that was not the entirety of the matters that would be considered.
The Legal Aid solicitor said her client's discharge plan showed further medical examination, a respiratory sleep study, was needed.
He had strong community ties, which mitigated risk of failing to appear, she said.
The defence proposed a NSW address for Mr Crockford to live at while on bail, that his mother could deposit $1000 as a cash surety, and other bail conditions.
Magistrate Paul Hayes said a person arrested and charged was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
"Bail is not denied simply as a punishment," he said.
The court found there were unacceptable risks of failing to appear and endangering the safety of the community, on the basis of the strength of the prosecution case, the seriousness of the offence and the likelihood of a custodial sentence if convicted.
There were no conditions that could reasonably ameliorate the risks and bail was refused, Mr Hayes said.
Mr Crockford was remanded in custody to reappear in Dubbo Local Court on April 4.