New details emerge as driver charged in tragic Buxton crash
The deaths of five teens - aged between 14 and 16 - in a horror crash in Sydney’s southwest have rocked the local community, with tragic new details emerging about the victims.
Tyrell Edwards, 18, was driving a Nissan Navara ute at 8pm on Tuesday night when the vehicle slammed into a tree, resulting in the deaths of the three girls and two boys with him.
Edwards, who was on his P-plates, was the sole survivor of the crash and was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The father of 15-year-old Lily Van De Putte said he was haunted by the final text message she sent him hours before her death, which read, “Dad, can I go out tonight?”
Mr Van De Putte, who was in hospital undergoing a procedure at the time, missed the text from his “baby girl”.
“The answer would have been no, it was a school night. But I never got the text,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Antonio Desisto, Summer Williams, Tyrese Bechard and Gabriella McLennan also died in the crash, and all were friends from Picton High School.
Two of the victims were reportedly in a romantic relationship when they died together, with Jai Gordon, a school friend, telling Daily Mail Australia one of them was “the nicest man” who “wanted to do so much with his life”.
“He was really into body building,” Mr Gordon said.
He added that the girlfriend was best friends with Lily Van De Putte, who was “nice to everyone in school”.
Following his release from hospital on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Edwards was arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station to assist police and for the purpose of alcohol and drug testing.
He has since been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.
Mr Van De Putte told the ABC he held no grudge against Mr Edwards, saying he would also be facing a lifetime of grief.
“We don’t hold any grudges against the driver because he is going through hell,” Mr Van De Putte said.
Family, friends and devastated locals have gathered at the scene of the crash to pay their respects, with friend Elli Mount among them.
Ms Mount said she felt she could have prevented the tragedy after she turned down an invitation to hang out with the group that night.
"They texted me last night asking if I wanted to hang out with them," Mount said.
"I could've got mum to pick them up. I could've prevented it. Now I don't know what to do.
"They invited me to hang out, I told them I couldn't stay out late.
"I just feel like I can't wake up."
Ms Mount, who had been playing soccer with two of the girls that afternoon, spoke of her friends’ supportive natures and talent on the soccer field.
"(They) were very close, and no matter what happened they were always there for me," she said.
She said one “was an amazing goalie” while the other “was the best defender I have ever seen”.
"It's going to be upsetting when they get their trophies for soccer and their parents have to go up and get them," she said.
With students and staff at Picton High School left reeling from the tragedy, the state’s education department has provided additional support in the form of counselling.
Acting Inspector Jason Hogan, from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit, said police were investigating all lines of inquiry but that speeding was “a possible factor” in the crash.
He added that the teenagers’ families were also being offered support as investigations continue.
"Our family liaison officers have spoken to the families and, under the circumstances, they wouldn't be doing very well," he said.
"We'll be offering them some support and we've reached out to the road victims' support group to provide ongoing welfare and counselling as part of the services that they provide."
Image: Nine