New details emerge as driver charged in tragic Buxton crash
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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?”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Van De Putte, who was in hospital undergoing a procedure at the time, missed the text from his “baby girl”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“The answer would have been no, it was a school night. But I never got the text,” he told <em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/buxton-crash-five-lives-lost-to-unspeakable-tragedy/news-story/ac574c3e7ebbe4064c3e161a60986987" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a></em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Antonio Desisto, Summer Williams, Tyrese Bechard and Gabriella McLennan also died in the crash, and all were friends from Picton High School.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Two of the victims were reportedly in a romantic relationship when they died together, with Jai Gordon, a school friend, telling <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11187775/Buxton-Picton-Sydney-crash-Two-teens-killed-boyfriend-girlfriend-Fathers-text-revealed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> one of them was “the nicest man” who “wanted to do so much with his life”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“He was really into body building,” Mr Gordon said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He added that the girlfriend was best friends with Lily Van De Putte, who was “nice to everyone in school”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He has since been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Van De Putte told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-07/friends-family-pay-respect-teenagers-killed-in-buxton-car-crash/101413480" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em> he held no grudge against Mr Edwards, saying he would also be facing a lifetime of grief.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We don’t hold any grudges against the driver because he is going through hell,” Mr Van De Putte said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Family, friends and devastated locals have gathered at the scene of the crash to pay their respects, with friend Elli Mount among them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"They texted me last night asking if I wanted to hang out with them," Mount said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I could've got mum to pick them up. I could've prevented it. Now I don't know what to do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"They invited me to hang out, I told them I couldn't stay out late.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I just feel like I can't wake up."</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"(They) were very close, and no matter what happened they were always there for me," she said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">She said one “was an amazing goalie” while the other “was the best defender I have ever seen”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He added that the teenagers’ families were also being offered support as investigations continue.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Our family liaison officers have spoken to the families and, under the circumstances, they wouldn't be doing very well," he said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"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."</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine</em></p>
