Ballarat hit-run: Bradley Sparks accused of mowing down cop’s dad in fatal crash

A Victorian man accused of running down a Ballarat cyclist and leaving him to die on the road has fronted court.

Bradley John Spark is charged with culpable driving causing death, leaving the scene of an accident where a person was killed and failing to immediately render assistance when someone had died.

The Alfredton man appeared for a brief administrative hearing in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon.

The 39-year-old was charged in connection to the death of cyclist David Thomson, who was allegedly struck as he rode to work at Delacombe on October 21.

Defence lawyer Sarah Pratt flagged there would be a bail application for Mr Spark next week and did not oppose a longer than normal period for the brief of evidence to be prepared.

Mr Thomson’s daughter, Sophie, a member of the police, made the tragic discovery as she drove to work about 7.30am and came across the crash scene.

Unaware of what had happened, she stopped to ask other officers attending a crime scene just off La Trobe St to see if they needed anything.

“It was my usual way to work; I drive past it every day,” she said at a press conference.

“A sergeant detective I worked with daily informed me that a cyclist had been hit and killed and the car had failed to stop.”

She was then quickly ushered away and told the devastating news the cyclist was her dad, 60-year-old David Thomson.

“My world instantly broke,” Ms Thomson said.

Mr Thomson, who worked in the office of a local concreting company, was riding to work along La Trobe St in Delacombe last Thursday when he was stuck and killed about 5.40am.

A committal mention was set down for early next year.