A 25-year-old woman has been charged with theft of a vehicle as investigations progress into a tragic car crash that resulted in a 17-year-old boy’s death. She is the third individual arrested in connection with the incident that occurred on a Saturday night involving a stolen Honda that was being pursued by police.
The police chase began just before midnight on the New England Highway, near Newcastle, when the vehicle failed to stop for authorities. Initial inquiries suggested that the car had been stolen from a business in Wallsend, approximately 11 kilometres west of Newcastle.
The vehicle, driven by a 14-year-old boy, ultimately crashed 100 metres north of Makybe Diva Street in Scone, leaving both the driver and a front-seat passenger trapped inside. Emergency services managed to free them, but sadly, the passenger succumbed to injuries at the scene. The driver, along with three other passengers, was transported to hospital with injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening.
The woman, who was one of the passengers in the car, has been charged with being in a stolen vehicle and was denied bail, set to appear in court today. This follows earlier charges laid against the driver and two other passengers in connection with a series of serious offences.
The 14-year-old driver faces multiple charges, including initiating a police pursuit, driving dangerously and without stopping, and various charges relating to negligent and aggravated dangerous driving that led to the fatality. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old passenger has also been charged for being in a stolen vehicle.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding youth involvement in dangerous driving behaviours and the implications of vehicle theft on community safety.