Lachlan McLaren, 16, died saving his girlfriend’s life. It was his birthday
The girlfriend of a selfless schoolboy who died when he pushed her out of the path of an out-of-control ute has told a court: ‘I lost a part of myself that day’.
Lachlan McLaren was walking Ella Mahony home through Mentone, in Melbourne‘s south-east, after her shift at Woolworths on the afternoon of August 15 last year.
As they walked, 32-year-old unlicensed driver Christopher Hennessey came hurtling down the wrong side of the Nepean Highway, in a white ute while high on ice.
The Year 10 Mentone Grammar boy shoved Ms Mahony out of the way and copped the full impact of the crash. He died that day, his 16th birthday.
In her victim impact statement on Wednesday, Ms Mahony told the Victorian County Court that she had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder since the tragedy.
‘I lost Lachie and part of myself that day, two things I will never get back,’ her statement read, according to Seven News.
Ella Mahony is pictured outside court on Wednesday. Since the accident, she has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder
Mr McLaren’s mother, Michelle, told the court she sat with her son’s lifeless body for hours – willing his eyes to open.
‘I had to walk away and leave my baby in a box and it shattered my heart into a million pieces,’ she said.
His father, Carey, told the court he has been blinded by rage his son’s death.
‘I don’t know who I am anymore,’ he said.
Lachlan McLaren died as he walked his girlfriend, Ella Mahony, home in Mentone, in Melbourne’s south-east, on August 15 last year (crash scene pictured)
Hennessey had driven 800 metres on the wrong side of the highway before he ploughed into the teens.
He was subsequently charged with culpable driving causing death.
Hennessy was found guilty and appeared court via video link on Wednesday – keeping his head down as victim impact statements were read out.
The 32-year-old will be sentenced on Monday.