Cardross road accident
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The Cardross road accident refers to an alleged hit and run accident at Cardross, Victoria, Australia at 9.50pm on February 18, 2006,[1] where a driver collided with a group of thirteen teenage pedestrians, killing five immediately and injuring eight more. The teenagers were walking along Myall Street, Cardross to a party in nearby Red Cliffs after being dropped by a taxi at an incorrect address.[1]
Cassandra Manners, 16, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cory Dowling, 16, Abby Hirst, 17 and her 16 year old brother Shane Hirst all died at the scene. Josephine Calvi, 16, died the following day at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.[2]
On February 20, 2006, Thomas Graham Towle, a 35-year-old resident of Red Cliffs appeared in the Mildura Magistrates Court,[3] facing 17 charges, including six of culpable driving, five of negligently causing serious injury and one of failing to stop after an accident.[4] Towle made no application for bail and was remanded[5] in custody and ordered to reappear before the Mildura Magistrates Court for a committal hearing to begin during March, 2007.
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[edit] Aftermath
Peter Gallagher, a relative of victim Cory Dowling, read a statement on behalf of the victims families to a crowd of over 600[6] mourners gathered on the lawns at the Mildura Base Hospital on the night of the accident,
- "We are now aware that we have lost our beautiful children overnight. In a moment of time, our lives have been changed forever. No words can describe what we are and will be going through.[2]
The Government of Victoria announced it would provide AUD$40,000 for counselling of victims and relatives.[3]
Prime Minister, John Howard issued a statement following the accident,
- "It is just such a tragic loss of young lives. It is heartbreaking. Young kids out on a Saturday night to enjoy themselves and something like this happens. I, like all other Australians, (am) dreadfully sorry. I can't do more than express my profound sympathy and condolences to those who have lost their children and their friends in this terrible accident." [7]
Michael Jeffery, the Governor-General of Australia, also sent a message of condolence to the Mildura community, which he had visited during 2005.[8]
Two minutes silence was observed at the Lock Rock Music Festival held in Mildura a week after the accident, on February 25, 2006.[7] The festival was hosted by radio announcer and former Red Cliffs resident, Myf Warhurst.
Towle's family, including his children, reported receiving threats from members of the community,[9] forcing police to make an announcement appealing for calm. Acting Inspector Michael Talbot of the Major Collision Investigation Unit was quoted as saying,
- "Creating more tensions is not going to help them. It's not going to help their families come to grips with what has happened. We, as the community, the police, the people of Mildura, all need to work together to keep calm on this and ensure that everything's done smoothly, properly and there's no trouble caused."[5]
The father of the accused, Graham Towle, offered his condolences, saying
- "... with pain and tears, I want everyone to know I feel so sorry for the families and friends of the grieving and dreadful loss that has happened. The community has rallied around all concerned and I, as the father and grandfather, publicly thank them for their kindness and words of compassion."[10]
On February 18, 2007, a memorial service was held at Mildura's Henderson Park to mark the first anniversary of the accident. A permanent roadside memorial was erected at the scene of the accident in early 2007.
[edit] Committal hearing
A committal hearing began in Mildura before Magistrate Donna Bakos on March 19, 2007. A total of 42 witnesses including 28 children were calling during the two week hearing.[11] Towle was not required to attend the committal hearing due to concerns for his safety [4] and appeared briefly via video link at the beginning of committal proceedings.[11]
It was alleged Towle drank bourbon whiskey mixed with Coca-Cola earlier in the day and allowed his four year old child to sit on his lap while driving[12][13] at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour shortly before the accident occurred. It was also alleged Towle stank of alcohol in the hours after the crash and had been cheating in his methadone program in the days before the accident[citation needed].
Witness, Matthew Orsini, denied the group of teenagers had been walking on the road.[14]
Towle told police he was travelling at approximately 90 kilometres per hour, and that the corner "just jumped out at him".[15]
- "By the time I was at the corner, it was pretty sharp, I put me foot on the brake and lost control of the car and then it went sideways into a group of people ... so close to the road."
Towle described the scene to police as "absolute horror".
- "People laying down were saying, 'please help me'. I went over to one lady who was unconscious and said are you all right and someone said 'you just get away from them', then I thought with the other fellas on the road, you know, I better get out of here. There was two cars that had pulled up so I knew that there was help on its way, I just didn’t leave them stranded."[16]
Towle fled the scene, leaving his four year old son and ten year old daughter behind. He telephoned police to notify them of his whereabouts five hours after the accident. Andrew Arden, a teenager present at the crash scene, denied threatening to kill Towle immediately after the accident occured, however admitted during committal hearing proceedings he yelled at Towle, saying "You fuckin' bastard, what have you done?" and then threw a beer bottle at him.[4]
Towle was reported to be hysterical and suicidal in the hours following the accident. On advice from his lawyer, Towle also refused to provide a blood sample to police. Towle has not yet been required to enter a plea.[17]
Towle later told police,
- "I don't believe I did – I did anything wrong. It was a complete accident ... no driver in the world would have been able to control that corner ... unless there were was a speed sign saying to slow down as the corner was approaching." [18]
Defence lawyer for Towle, Brendan Murphy, QC said the legal rights of his client had been damaged, saying,
- "It will be demonstrated throughout this committal that there has been carried out by Victorian police investigators a sanitisation of statements of witnesses and as a result there has been an exclusion of important factors and this could have the result of depriving the defendant in this case a fair go."[19]
The vehicle allegedly involved in the accident was sent to Japan for scrap metal without the consent of the defendants defence team.[13]
Australian Broadcasting Corporation television series Media Watch highlighted a front page article in The Age newspaper where previous court attendances of the defendant were listed, an action Media Watch suggests could influence a jury.[20]
On March 27, 2007, Magistrate Donna Bakos ordered Towle to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria, [21], and to appear for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on June 5, 2007. Towle was formally refused bail, with Magistrate Bakos saying he was an unacceptable risk of fleeing.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Teenagers killed by car 'at wrong address' The Australian, March 21, 2007
- ^ a b Mildura crash toll rises to six The Age, February 19, 2006
- ^ a b Driver to face court, sixth teen dies Australian Broadcasting Commission, February 20, 2006
- ^ a b c Teen 'threw bottle' at hit-and-run driver The Courier-Mail, March 21, 2007
- ^ a b Man charged over Mildura car crash Australian Broadcasting Commission, February 20, 2006
- ^ Community devastated by deadly hit-and-run Australian Broadcasting Commission, February 19, 2006
- ^ a b Crash man appears in court The Age, February 20, 2006
- ^ Mildura Accident Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, February 19, 2006
- ^ Calm called for after deadly crash TVNZ, February 20, 2006
- ^ Accused's father grieves Mildura victims The Age, February 23, 2006
- ^ a b Teens mowed down by car were at wrong address The Australian, March 21, 2007
- ^ Teens tell of horror smash that claimed six The Brisbane Times, March 19, 2007
- ^ a b Cardross deaths committal hearing told car scrapped Australian Broadcasting Commission, March 19, 2007
- ^ Witness denies teen crash victims on road The Australian, March 21, 2007
- ^ Mildura crash driver didn't refer to people on road, court hears Australian Broadcasting Commission, March 22, 2007
- ^ Driver fled angry threats The Border Mail, March 23, 2007
- ^ Mildura driver 'threatened' after deadly crash The Australian, March 22, 2007
- ^ I did nothing wrong: fatal crash driver News.com.au, March 26, 2007
- ^ Hit-run suspect's rights 'damaged' The Age, March 19, 2007
- ^ Media and Contempt Australian Broadcasting Commission, March 19, 2007
- ^ Trial for Mildura tragedy Herald Sun, March 27, 2007
