P-plate driver jailed over fatal Buxton crash that killed five of his friends – as no-nonsense judge delivers tough message to killer

A P-plate driver has been jailed for at least seven years after recklessly driving almost twice the speed limit with too many children in the car when he crashed into a tree, killing five children.

Tyrell Edwards faced Campbelltown District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving causing death while driving more than 45km/h over the limit.

The 20-year-old wore a green tracksuit and kept his head down as Judge Christopher O’Brien sentenced him to at least seven years in prison, with a maximum of 12 years behind bars.

The judge described the deaths of the five victims as ‘tragic and impossibly sad’.

“The loss of these five young people hurts us all,” he said.

‘Their deaths were completely avoidable and the responsibility for this lies entirely with the perpetrator.’

The large group of his relatives and friends burst into tears as his sentence was pronounced on the date of Edwards’ 20th birthday.

They hugged as they sat in the jury box, separated from the rest of the packed courtroom.

Edwards’ conviction comes more than a year after he drove along a rural road in Buxton at almost double the posted speed limit on September 6, 2022, and crashed into a tree.

Edwards suffered only minor injuries, but his five teenage passengers were killed.

Lily Van de Putte, 14, Summer Williams, 14, Gabriella McLennan, 15, and Tyrese Bechard, 15, were all thrown from the car and found some distance from the wreckage.

16-year-old Antonio Desisto was hanging upside down in the passenger seat after being caught in his seat belt.

Some families of the victims reportedly laughed derisively as the verdict was handed down, while others gasped and cried at the thought that Edwards could be out of prison in seven years.

Edwards was the only survivor of the crash, which witnesses described as a “huge explosion.”

His mother’s Nissan Navara had only four seat belts, but five passengers were illegally stuffed into the car at 8pm when the P-plater lost control of the car.

Judge O’Brien noted the “magnitude of the carnage” caused by Edwards’ reckless driving on that fateful night.

The P-plater veered onto the wrong side of the main road and crashed into a tree before the impact sent the car careening into a second tree.

Edwards was heard shouting ‘Get me out of here, I can’t stay here’ as he was trapped in the cabin.

He managed to free himself by pushing out the windshield and climbing out.

“I’m going to jail, I can’t go to jail, I don’t want to go to jail,” the 20-year-old told witnesses at the scene.

Court documents show that he had previously been banned from driving twice.

According to the agreed facts, Edwards reached speeds of up to 90 mph (147 km/h) when he picked up Tyrese and Antonio for a joy ride on the afternoon of September 6.

He used his cell phone to film himself crossing the road and was heard saying in a Snapchat video: “We’re going 100 (mph) the whole way.”

Judge O’Brien ruled that the P-plater had shown a ‘serious disregard for public safety’ when he engaged in a ‘long-standing, persistent and deliberate’ course of criminal conduct.

“His driving was both erratic and aggressive and was characterized by him showing off to the victims,” he said.

‘The offender has demonstrated an abdication of his responsibilities as a road user.’

In a letter to the court, the P-plater apologized for the pain his actions caused and said he wished he could “take it all back.”

“I am so sorry for the pain and loss I have caused to all the families,” he wrote.

“I know that serving a sentence will not be enough for the damage that has been done.”

The 20-year-old acknowledged that there were “too many people in the car” and “speed was involved” when he crashed into the tree.

“I know I have to face what happened and that I am responsible for the accident,” he wrote.

Judge O’Brien ruled that the 20-year-old had continuously demonstrated his remorse and acceptance of responsibility for his actions.

“He really has sincere and deep remorse for his behavior and the deaths of the five victims,” ​​the judge said.

The court heard Edward suffered from long-term acute stress disorder and depressive disorder after the crash. He also continues to struggle with survivor’s guilt, self-blame and “persistent” thoughts of suicide.

Judge O’Brien took into account his mental health and the burden this would add to the time he spent behind bars.

“I have no doubt he will be vulnerable in a prison environment,” he said.

With that in mind, he extended the non-parole period so Edwards could serve a longer term of his sentence in the community.

The grieving families of the five victims previously told the court they had been given life sentences when Edwards decided to drive recklessly that night.

Lily’s sister Brittany Van De Putte cried as she highlighted the devastating and long-lasting impact of Edwards’ “stupid decision.”

“My sister’s life was in your hands. She trusted you, we trusted you,” she said.

“You had control and you abused it.”

Her father John Van De Putte was responsible for leading the ‘Remember the Five, Come Alive’ road safety campaign in honor of the dead children.

He previously told the court there was ‘no excuse’ for Edwards, a licensed driver, to have driven so recklessly and endangered the lives of his underage passengers.

“Whatever you get, it won’t bring back the five lives,” he told the 20-year-old.