Learner faces more serious charge over pedestrian death

By Emily Woods and Cassandra Morgan

Police say the learner driver was unaccompanied when his car hit and killed a pedestrian. (Paul Miller/AAP PHOTOS)

A learner driver accused of killing a pedestrian on a Melbourne footpath may face a more serious charge pending drug test results, a court has been told.

The 16-year-old boy has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving as a learner while unaccompanied over a crash on Tuesday morning.

Police were called to Taylors Road at Keilor Downs after a car mounted a kerb and struck a 29-year-old Kealba man who was on the footpath. The man died at the scene.

The boy was due to appear at a children's court on Friday, but only his lawyer and prosecutors were present for the short hearing.

Prosecutors told the court the dangerous driving charge may be uplifted to a culpable driving charge, pending toxicology results.

The boy's lawyer said he was injured in the crash and released from hospital on Thursday.

The teen remains in custody and will next face court in October.

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