Father of one of five teenagers killed in horror crash says he holds no grudge against driver in incredible act of forgiveness: ‘He’s going to go through hell’
- Five teenagers are dead after a ute lost control and crashed into a tree
- Among the victims are Antonio Desisto, Tyrese Bechard and Summer Williams
- Lily Van De Putte and Gabby McLennan also died in the horror car crash
- Lily’s father said he had no grudges against the driver who survived the accident
- Tyrell Edwards, 18, was driving when the Ute plowed into a tree
The father of a teenage girl who died in a horror car crash along with four of her pals has said he had no ill intentions towards the driver.
Tyrell Edwards, 18, was at the wheel of the Nissan Navara Ute when it went off the road and crashed into a tree in Buxton, near Picton, southwest of Sydney, on Tuesday night.
Mr Edwards was the sole survivor while his five passengers Antonio Desisto, Tyrese Bechard, Summer Williams, Lily Van De Putte and Gabby McLennan – all aged between 14 and 16 – were killed.
Lily’s father spoke out Wednesday after news of the fatal accident rocked the close-knit community.
“We don’t hold grudges against the driver because he’s going to go through hell,” John Van de Putte told ABC.
Lily Van De Putte was one of the five victims who died in the horror car crash in Buxton on Tuesday night
Tyrell Edwards, 18, (pictured) was at the wheel of the Nissan Navara Ute when it went off the road and crashed into a tree in south-west Sydney on Tuesday night
Mr Edwards, who had just graduated from Picton High, was arrested for mandatory blood and urine tests but is not in police custody. He returned a negative result when he was intoxicated at the scene.
He was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Liverpool hospital on Wednesday morning. No charges were brought.
Detective Acting Inspector Jason Hogan said preliminary investigations indicated speed was a possible factor in the crash.
“We appeal to people to carry out their journey according to the rules and regulations,” the inspector said.
9th grade classmate Elly Mount tearfully recalled the five teenagers who died and revealed she almost joined them in the fateful journey
Police are investigating whether speed was a factor in the collision in Buxton
“Obviously having six people in a four-seat vehicle is inherently dangerous and should not be done.”
The horror crash has sent shockwaves through Buxton as devastated locals try to make sense of the tragedy.
9th grade classmate Elly Mount tearfully recalled the five teenagers who died and revealed how she nearly joined them in the fateful journey.
“They wanted me to hang out with them,” Elly said after laying flowers at the crash site with her mother, Amy Cook.
The horror crash has sent shockwaves through Buxton as devastated locals try to make sense of the tragedy
With tears streaming down her face, Elly said she was closest to two of the sisters who were top school soccer players.
‘(One of my friends) was an amazing goalkeeper. (Your) mother did everything for me, drove me to games.
“I don’t feel like it’s real. I can’t manage.
“Who is going to get up and take their trophies for football, their parents?”
Elly said the whole group she almost drove the car with, including the two boys, was in 9th or 10th grade.
Camden Police Superintendent Paul Fuller said it was “one of the worst accident scenes” he’s seen in 38 years of service.
Mourners are seen in front of a bouquet of flowers left in honor of the five victims
Five teenagers who died when a ute crashed into a tree in south-west Sydney have been named
Five teenagers who died when a ute crashed into a tree in south-west Sydney have been named and pictured, while distraught relatives leave heartfelt tributes.
Antonio Desisto, Tyrese Bechard, Summer Williams, Lily Van De Putte and Gabby McLennan – all aged between 14 and 16 – died just after 8pm on Tuesday when a Nissan Navara Ute went off the road in Buxton, 100km south-west of the city came off.
The driver, 18-year-old Tyrell Edwards, was taken to Liverpool Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
He was arrested for mandatory blood and urine tests but is not in police custody.
It comes as Miss Van de Putte’s father, John, told the ABC he “holds no grudges” against the driver because “he’s going to go through hell”.
Lily Van De Putte (pictured) sadly died with her friends in a ute smash on Tuesday night
Gabriella McLennan (pictured) was one of the teenage victims of Tuesday’s horror hit
Antonio Desisto (pictured) died in a car accident around 8pm on Tuesday
Pictured: Summer Williams, who was just 14 when she died in a car crash on Tuesday night
Pictured: Tyrese Bechard, who died with his friends in a car crash on Tuesday night
