NSW: Tyres blamed for crash that killed four teens
14 Nov 2008 4:09 PMBy Crystal Ja
LISMORE, NSW, Nov 14 AAP - Incorrectly fitted tyres were to blame for a crash that killed a teenage driver's four passengers, his lawyer has told a court.
High school mates Bryce Wells, 17, Mitchell Eveleigh, Paul Morris and CoreyNew, all 16, died when the car ran off the road in northern NSW early on October 22, 2006.
The driver, who was injured, is facing trial in the NSW District Court in Lismore on four charges of aggravated dangerous driving causing death. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.
Defence barrister Chris Bruce SC said the teen had been driving his father's car and did not know some of its tyres had been incorrectly fitted.
"Both tyres were on back to front, so instead of water being dispersed fromthe tyre the water was being drawn into the tyre," he told the court.
The tyres' lack of traction had contributed to the crash on the damp road, Mr Bruce said.
He admitted his client, who cannot be named, had been speeding at the time of the crash, believing the speed limit was 100kmh when it was in fact 80kmh.
However, Crown prosecutor Jeff McLennan said he was estimated to have been travelling at speeds of up to 115kmh, and that the teen's lack of driving experience made him culpable.
Mr McLennan told the jury that just before crashing, the accused's car overtook a vehicle carrying seven other teens they had met that night in Byron Bay.
The accused's car passed "in a flash", illegally crossing over double linesbefore disappearing round a bend, witnesses allegedly told police.
By the time the second car rounded the same corner, the first vehicle had crashed seven metres down an embankment, killing the four passengers, the jury was told.
Family and friends of the victims and the accused driver were all present in court today.
Outside court, Robert Wells, the father of Bryce, said the state governmentneeded to ensure no more young lives were lost on NSW roads.
"Our kids are dying and they're sitting on their hands," he said of the government.
He said laws governing probationary drivers needed to be further tightened.
Key crown witness and police crash investigator Rachelle Adams will continue her evidence before Judge Colin Charteris on Monday.
The jury will begin the day by touring the crash scene.
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