The only passenger wearing a seatbelt when the Nissan Navara truck crashed into a tree on East Parade in the tiny town of Buxton last Tuesday night was Tyrell Edwards, 18, who was charged with five counts of reckless driving resulting in death.
According to authorities, the P-plate driver broke the car in two after colliding with “two enormous trees” in the town 100 km southwest of Sydney while traveling at “high speed.”
Lily van de Putte, 15, Antonio Desisto, 15, Summer Williams, 14, Tyrese Bechard, 16, and Gabby McLennan, 14, were all slain while wearing their school uniforms while attending Picton High School.
According to police court papers, “Four passengers were thrown from the back of the car and were discovered a short distance away, imprisoned by confinement.”
The terrible case’s development comes as the grieving parents of the suspected victims start the traumatic process of burying their loved ones.
Tyrell Edwards, 18, (left) was the only person in the Nissan Navara ute wearing a seatbelt when the car slammed into a tree on East Parade in Buxton last Tuesday night
The grieving relatives of the five accused victims begin making preparations to bid their loved ones a last goodbye (pictured, family members visit the crash site)
The distraught father of Lily, John Van De Putte, said he wished to send off his “baby daughter” as soon as possible.
He told the Daily Telegraph, “We just want to get it over with. It will be a celebration of her life, but we just want it done.”
The depressing disclosure comes only a few days after Mr. Van De Putte called for significant modifications to the P-plate legislation that would forbid cars from transporting people.
The father of the Buxton family has also requested that drivers be at least 20 years old before being permitted to operate a vehicle.
Tyrese Bechard’s aunt, Maria Ma, said that her mother had fostered the adolescent since he was a child since she had lost her own daughter to a heroin overdose.
Her financial and emotional problems have suddenly become worse as a result of the fatal collision.
‘She’s strapped for cash, she’s doing it really tough,’ Ms Ma said, adding the teenagers had been heading to McDonald’s when they crashed.
Lily Van De Putte, 15, was one of five teens killed after the car they were in smashed into a tree on Tuesday night. Her father John has said he wants her funeral over as soon as possible
Summer William (left) and Tyrese Bechard (right) were two of five passengers who died in the horror crash as police allege four of the passengers ‘were ejected from the rear of the vehicle’
It is understood the group had been driving around together for several hours.
Edwards remains in custody after being refused bail when he appeared via video link at Picton Local Court on Thursday.
He was transferred in handcuffs in a prison van to Silverwater’s Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre.
He allegedly used his phone to film Snapchat video of himself aggressively turning the wheel and swerving at 90km/hour before the crash, according to the police.
Antonio Desisto was among the five teenagers who tragically died in the crash
Exaven Desisto, the father of victim Antonio, broke down in tears outside court on Thursday
Driver Tyrell Edwards, 18, was the sole survivor of the crash and has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death
Police will also allege that Edwards was heard by a witness after the horror smash saying: ‘I f***ed up, I’m going to jail’.
During his bail application on Thursday, the court heard that Edwards had prior speeding offences which led to his licence being suspended on two separate occasions.
Exaven Desisto, the father of 16-year-old Antonio, sobbed inside the courtroom when Edwards’ case was mentioned.
Outside, the shattered father hugged police officers, and described his son as his ‘best friend’ to Daily Mail Australia and other media.
‘He literally never left my side. I didn’t have many friends, I have a couple of best mates but my son was my best friend,’ he said, clearly overwhelmed with emotion.
‘We did everything together, I brought him up, he was just the most happy and humble kid. He used to pray before every meal he put in his mouth.’
‘I have to visit my son in a f**king morgue,’ he said.
Five teenagers were killed in the horror crash around 100km southwest of Sydney on Tuesday night
Outside court the shattered father hugged police officers, as he described his son as his ‘best friend’
Mr Desisto said those involved needed to be held accountable for their actions.
According to court documents, police will allege footage of the teens from inside the car shows the moments before the crash.
Footage from around an hour before the crash allegedly shows Edwards holding his phone while aggressively turning the steering wheel.
Loud music can also apparently be heard, court documents said, with the passengers laughing as the vehicle swerved at 90km/h.
One male allegedly said: ‘We’re going to spin out cuz.’
Witnesses alleged the car travelled at ‘high speeds’ and was on the wrong side of the road before coming back to the right side before the crash.
Back in Buxton, heartbroken friends, family and school mates continue to mourn the loss of the five teenagers in the horror smash
A large crowd of supporters attended Tyrell Edwards’ first court appearance in Picton, in Sydney’s south-west, on Thursday
Edwards was allegedly unable to free himself from the wreck, while another victim was trapped in a passenger seat.
In an interview with officers, Edwards allegedly told police his steering wheel began ‘shaking’ and that he lost control of the vehicle.
He said he couldn’t control the vehicle and tried to brake but it didn’t significantly slow. Police allege roadway evidence from the scene does not support his account.
The driver also allegedly claimed he only knew about four passengers and didn’t know when the fifth one entered the car.
Edwards appeared expressionless in court via video link, and sat with his hands clasped together while wearing a black hoodie.
The court heard he obtained his provisional licence in February last year but has had his licence suspended twice since for speeding offences, the court heard.
Friends of the five students killed on Tuesday visited the site of the crash Wednesday morning
Magistrate Mark Douglass said the decision to deny bail was ‘not made easily’ but he had taken into account Edwards’ driving history.
‘Given the egregious breach of trust, given the blatant breach of road rules that police allege occurred, this court has no confidence that this particular person would comply, given the history I’ve explained, with any bail conditions the court set at this particular point in time,’ Mr Douglass said.
Edwards, who works as a labourer, has a history of anxiety and was left ‘traumatised’ by the incident, the court heard.