NSW: Teenager charged over fatal crash
19 Jan 2009 8:58 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 19 AAP - The 17-year-old driver of a car that crashed in northern NSW, killing one passenger and injuring himself and two others after allegedly evading a roadside breath test, has been charged by police.
Officers said they chased the car along the New England Highway after it failed to stop near Tenterfield, close to the Queensland border about 12.35am (AEDT) on Sunday.
The car left the road and struck a rocky embankment at Bolivia, about 35km south of Tenterfield, police said.
A Queensland man, 21, who was a passenger in the car, died at the scene.
A 24-year-old Queensland man was airlifted from the crash site to Royal Brisbane Hospital in a critical condition, while a 17-year-old female passenger, also from Queensland, was taken to Tamworth Hospital in a stable condition.
"The 17-year-old male driver of the vehicle, who was trapped for more than two hours, was taken to Lismore Hospital where he remained under police guard overnight," police said in a statement.
"He was arrested upon release from hospital (on Monday) ... and taken to Lismore Police Station for interviewing."
The youth has since been charged with aggravated dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving causing death, and two counts of aggravated dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
He has been refused bail and is due to face Lismore Children's Court on Tuesday.
