Cardross road crash
{{short description|Hit and run accident at Cardross, Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
The Cardross road crash was a hit and run crash at Cardross, Victoria, Australia at 9.50 p.m. on 18 February 2006, where the driver of a Ford EA Falcon station wagon struck 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 driver at an incorrect address.
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.
On 20 February 2006, Thomas Graham Towle, an unemployed 35-year-old father of six from Red Cliffs, appeared in the Mildura Magistrates Court facing 17 charges, including six of culpable driving, five of negligently causing serious injury and one of failing to stop after a collision. On 31 March 2008 Towle was found guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria and sentenced to 10 years jail with a minimum of seven years, of which he had already served two years. He completed his sentence on 16 May 2016.
Aftermath
File:Cardross memorial 2a.jpg in Myall St, Cardross]]
File:Cardross permanent memorial.jpg
Peter Gallagher, a family member of victim Cory Dowling, read a statement on behalf of the victims families to a crowd of over 600{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1573278.htm |title=Community devastated by deadly hit-and-run |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306114822/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1573278.htm |archive-date=6 March 2008 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=19 February 2006}} mourners gathered on the lawns at the Mildura Base Hospital on the night of the crash,
:"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.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mildura-crash-toll-rises-to-six/2006/02/19/1140283942775.html |title=Mildura crash toll rises to six |newspaper=The Age |date=19 February 2006}}
The Government of Victoria announced it would provide A$40,000 for counselling of victims and relatives.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1573497.htm |title=Driver to face court, sixth teen dies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913112031/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1573497.htm |archive-date=13 September 2007 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 February 2006}}
Then Prime Minister, John Howard issued a statement,
:"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."{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/02/20/1140283971103.html?page=2 |title=Crash man appears in court |newspaper=The Age |date=20 February 2006 |first=Ben |last=Schneiders |author2=Mildura}}
Michael Jeffery, the Governor-General of Australia, also sent a message of condolence to the Mildura community, which he had visited during 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/news.php?action=view&id=29 |title=Mildura Accident |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829053334/http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/news.php?action=view&id=29 |archive-date=29 August 2007 |publisher=Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia |first=Michael |last=Jeffery |authorlink=Michael Jeffery (Australian Army officer) |date=19 February 2006}}
Two minutes silence was observed at the Lock Rock Music Festival held in Mildura a week after the crash, on 25 February 2006.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/towns-tributes-flow-for-dead-teens/2006/02/21/1140284033466.html 'We'll miss your cheeky grin'] The Age, 21 February 2006 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,{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423465/663050 |title=Calm called for after deadly crash |date=20 February 2006 |work=Television New Zealand |accessdate=23 September 2011}} 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."[http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1574285.htm Man charged over Mildura car crash] Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 20 February 2006
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."[http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Accuseds-father-grieves-Mildura-victims/2006/02/23/1140563908173.html Accused's father grieves Mildura victims] The Age, 23 February 2006
On 18 February 2007, a memorial service was held at Mildura's Henderson Park to mark the first anniversary of the crash. A permanent roadside memorial was erected at the scene of the crash in early 2007.{{google maps |url=http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&q=Myall%20Street%2C%20Cardross&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il}}
Committal hearing
A committal hearing began in Mildura before Magistrate Donna Bakos on 19 March 2007. A total of 42 witnesses including 28 children were called during the two-week hearing.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/teens-mowed-down-by-car-were-at-wrong-address/story-e6frg6of-1111113193437 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215165603/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21419021-2702,00.html |archive-date=15 December 2012 |title=Teens mowed down by car were at wrong address |newspaper=The Australian |date=21 March 2007 |first=Michael |last=Davis}} Towle was not required to attend the committal hearing due to concerns for his safety{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21422490-5003402,00.html |title=Teen 'threw bottle' at hit-and-run driver |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |date=21 March 2007}} and appeared briefly via video link at the beginning of committal proceedings.
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[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/teens-tell-of-horror-smash-that-claimed-six/2007/03/19/1174152965162.html Teens tell of horror smash that claimed six] The Brisbane Times, 19 March 2007[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1876141.htm Cardross deaths committal hearing told car scrapped]{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 March 2007 at speeds of up to {{convert|150|km/h|mph}} shortly before the crash occurred. Witness Matthew Orsini denied the group had been walking on the road.[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21420827-5006785,00.html Witness denies teen crash victims on road]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Australian, 21 March 2007
Towle told police he was travelling at approximately {{convert|90|km/h|mph}}, and that the corner "just jumped out at him".{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1879082.htm |url-status=dead |title=Mildura crash driver didn't refer to people on road, court hears |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328213403/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1879082.htm |archive-date=28 March 2007 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=22 March 2007}}
:"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."[http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/713193.html Driver fled angry threats] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030434/http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/713193.html |date=28 September 2007 }} The Border Mail, 23 March 2007
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 crash. Andrew Arden, a teenager present at the crash scene, denied threatening to kill Towle immediately after the crash, however admitted during committal hearing proceedings he yelled at Towle, saying "You f****n' bastard, what have you done?" and then threw a beer bottle at him.
Towle was reported to be hysterical and suicidal in the hours following the crash. On advice from his lawyer, Towle also refused to provide a blood sample to police.[https://archive.today/20121215184233/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21427358-2702,00.html Mildura driver 'threatened' after deadly crash] The Australian, 22 March 2007 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, not even Michael Schumacher ... unless there were was a speed sign saying to slow down as the corner was approaching."[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21449032-1702,00.html I did nothing wrong: fatal crash driver]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} News.com.au, 26 March 2007
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."[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hitrun-suspects-rights-damaged/2007/03/19/1174152939498.html Hit-run suspect's rights 'damaged'] The Age, 19 March 2007
The vehicle allegedly involved in the crash was sent to Japan for scrap metal without the consent of the defendants' defence team. ABC TV's 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.[https://archive.today/20121231070409/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1579630.htm Media and Contempt] Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 19 March 2007
On 27 March 2007, Magistrate Donna Bakos ordered Towle to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria,[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21454627-661,00.html Trial for Mildura tragedy] Herald Sun, 27 March 2007 and to appear for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on 5 June 2007. Towle was formally refused bail, with Magistrate Bakos saying he was an unacceptable risk of fleeing.
Trial
The trial of Thomas Graham Towle began on 4 February 2008 before the Supreme Court. On 31 March 2008 he was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of seven years (of which Towle had already served two years on remand). Towle subsequently appealed the sentence but the original judgement was upheld.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/towle-appeals-crash-sentence/story-e6frf7jo-1225710225454 |title=Fatal crash driver Thomas Graham Towle appeals sentence |agency=AAP |newspaper=Herald Sun |date=5 May 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/thomas-towle-appeals-length-of-sentence-received-after-he-killed-six-teenagers-in-mildura-crash/story-e6frf7jo-1225806679745 |title=Thomas Towle loses appeal against length of sentence received after he killed six teenagers in Mildura crash |first=Paul |last=Anderson|newspaper=Herald Sun |date=3 December 2009}}
Towle was freed on parole in June 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-05/thomas-towle-granted-parole-after-deadly-crash-in-mildura-kille/4736060 |title=Thomas Towle granted parole after deadly crash in Mildura killed six |date=5 June 2013 |work=ABC News}}
In September 2015, Towle was returned to jail after the Adult Parole Board cancelled his parole amid fears of an "escalation of risk to the community." It did not reveal how he had breached the conditions of his parole.{{Cite news|title = Killer driver back behind bars|url = http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/killer-driver-back-behind-bars-20150908-gjhm4v.html|newspaper = The Age|date = 2015-09-08|access-date = 2015-09-26|first = Cameron|last = Houston}} He completed his sentence and was released on 16 May 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/hitrun-killer-thomas-towle-walks-free-from-jail/news-story/376a216fb82fb54c5ed9693d08b7b2f6 |title=Hit-run killer Thomas Towle walks free from jail |first=Andrea |last=Hamblin |newspaper=Herald Sun |date=16 May 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2020}}
See also
{{wikinews|6 Teenagers die in car accident in Victoria, several others injured}}