On Thursday morning, hundreds of mourners gathered at HisHouse Church in Picton, south-west of Sydney, to bid goodbye to 16-year-old Tyrese Bechard.
On September 6, the Picton High School student and four of his classmates were killed when a Nissan Navara hit two trees on East Parade in neighboring Buxton.
18-year-old Tyrell Edwards was the alleged driver and lone survivor of the incident that claimed the lives of Lily van de Putte, 15, Summer Williams, 14, Tyrese Bechard, 16, and Gabriella McLennan, 14.
Tyrese and Antonio had been at boxing in the hours preceding the accident and had planned to take the train home together, according to a report from Daily Mail Australia.
Tyrese Bechard (shown on the right) was killed when a Nissan Navara ute collided with two trees on East Parade in nearby Buxton on Tuesday.
Antonio’s father, Exaven Desisto, called him late at night to find out where he was.
Mr. Desisto remembered, “I called him, as I often did when he arrived home late, and asked, “Tony, where are you?”
And he stated, “I’m getting food at McDonald’s with Tyrell.”
Mr. Desisto instructed his son to “ensure [Tyrell] drives f***ing safe,” to which the 15-year-old responded, “Yes, dad, you know me, I love my life, we’ll be safe.”
Hours later, the adolescents were deceased.
Edwards was charged with five counts of reckless driving resulting in death and bail was denied by the Picton Local Court on Thursday.
Edwards allegedly told detectives during an interview that the steering wheel began’shaking’ and that he lost control of the vehicle.
He claimed he was unable to control the vehicle and tried to apply the brakes without success. The police assert that roadside evidence from the crime scene contradicts his account.
In addition, the driver allegedly stated he was unaware of the fifth passenger’s entry into the vehicle.
After his court appearance on Thursday, Edwards was transported to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Silverwater.
According to witnesses, the car was traveling at “high speeds” and on the wrong side of the road just prior to the collision.
According to court filings, four of the adolescents were thrown from the vehicle’s rear.
They were discovered a short distance away and confined.
Edwards reportedly was unable to extricate himself from the collision, while another victim was pinned in the passenger seat.
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