Mother of three remains in critical condition as teen driver charged – Lake Macquarie

Case Summary:

A teenage driver has been charged in following a serious crash that left 11 people injured, including a mother of three children who remains in critical condition at Lake Macquarie.

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Offender:

• 17-year-old teenage driver
• Suffered serious injuries in the crash

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Victims

• The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, and two female passengers, aged 42 and 24, suffered serious injuries.
• Three further taxi passengers – men, aged 28, 35, and 47 – suffered minor injuries
• Three passengers in the Holden – two girls, aged 14, and a 17-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries.
• fourth passenger, aged 17, suffered minor injuries

Crime and Charges:

• dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm- drive manner dangerous (x3)
• cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle (x8).
• negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm)
• drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
• negligent driving, and not stop before lights at red light.

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Bail and Court Dates:

• The teenage driver was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on (Sunday 27 September 2020).

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Police will allege:

Just before 1.10am (Saturday 26 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the Edgeworth area, when they saw a Holden Commodore, leave a service station on Main Road.

Due to the manner of driving, police conducted a U-turn with the intention of stopping the vehicle.

The Holden continued to travel along Main Road and proceeded through a red traffic control light at the intersection of Garth Street, colliding with a Toyota HiAce passenger van, being operated as a taxi.

Eleven people were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for various injuries and taken to John Hunter Hospital.

The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, and two female passengers, aged 42 and 24, suffered serious injuries. The younger woman remains in a critical condition and the driver in a serious but stable condition.

Three further taxi passengers – men, aged 28, 35, and 47 – suffered minor injuries.

Three passengers in the Holden – two girls, aged 14, and a 17-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries. The Holden driver and a fourth passenger, both aged 17, suffered minor injuries.

The Holden driver was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result.

He was taken to hospital, under police guard, where he underwent mandatory testing.

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Maximum penalty

With multiple serious offenses this driver will face serious jail time, the matter is before the children’s court.