Cobram's Brett John Paterson, 48, who had previously pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death, faced Shepparton's County Court on Monday over the fatal collision on May 25, 2018, which killed Colin Curtis, 57.
In a statement read by Paterson's defence counsel, Robert O’Neill, the court heard Paterson "never wanted to harm anyone" and was aware his actions had "caused so much pain".
Prosecutor Nick Batten told the court Mr Curtis, who was a qualified builder, had been travelling north on Chapel Rd towards Muckatah in his Nissan Patrol utility at the time of the collision.
The court heard Paterson, who is a truck driver and earthworks contractor, was travelling in his 2003 Kenworth prime mover along Powerline Rd and was approaching a give-way sign.
Mr Batten said about 1.30 pm the vehicles driven by Paterson and Mr Curtis collided at the intersection of Powerline Rd and Chapel Rd in Muckatah.
The court heard both of the roads have a speed limit of 100 km/h.
Mr Curtis's utility was impacted by Paterson's prime mover during the collision, forcing it into a concrete power pole on the corner of the intersection, killing Mr Curtis.
Mr Batten said at the time of the collision there was a mound of dirt about 14 m east of the intersection, running parallel to Chapel Rd.
The court heard in a 000 call made at the scene Paterson told the operator he had "gone through a give-way sign" and believed he was travelling around "40 or 50 km an hour" at the time.
Following the collision, Senior Constable Brett Gardner, a senior motor mechanic and mechanical investigator with Victoria Police, attended the scene and found the prime mover to be in relatively poor mechanical condition, identifying issues with the braking system.
Detective Sergeant Jenell Mehegan, a reconstruction expert attached to the Major Collision Investigation Unit, also attended the scene and the court heard she observed a large mound of dirt situated at the intersection.
The court was told Sgt Mehegan found that "the mound prevents a clear view of Chapel Rd" and for Paterson to be able to stop at that point he would "need to be travelling at less than 28 km/h" if he was already braking.
Paterson was arrested later that day and interviewed at the Cobram police station where he told police he looked both ways at the intersection but he "just didn't see him".
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Curtis's son Josh described his father's death as leaving a "hole in his heart", saying he now often finds himself angry and frustrated.
During yesterday's proceedings, Mr O’Neill called three character witnesses to the stand who each described the accused as a hard-working and reliable man.
Muckatah's David Temple told the court following the collision Paterson was visibly distressed and "expressed he was responsible" for causing the death of Mr Curtis.
Mr O'Neill described his client's record of interview with police as that of someone who was "being frank” and shared "immediate concern" for the family of Mr Curtis.
“I wish I had taken another two seconds to give way a bit more thoroughly . . . I feel very sad, sad for the man in the ute and his family and everyone else I have affected for the rest of their lives,” Paterson said in his record of interview.
Mr O'Neill told the court Paterson and his family were well known in the local community, saying they were involved in sporting clubs and neighbourhood activities.
In his submissions Mr O'Neill urged County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd to take into account Paterson's plea of guilty, his immediate remorse, low moral culpability and the fact he is a positive contributor to his family and the community.
“Without the death and without the mounds of dirt this would be a careless driving case, not a dangerous driving,” he said.
Judge Kidd ordered Paterson to be assessed for a community corrections order prior to his sentencing on February 21.