Canberra families of teenagers killed in Barton Highway crash tell court of their 'never ending' painEBy Elizabeth ByrneTopic:Courts16m ago16 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:58amThe court heard victim impact statements from family members of the two teenagers that died as a result of the crash. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)In short:A Canberra boy has faced court for running a red light in a stolen car and colliding with a ute, resulting in the death of two teenage passengers.The mothers of the two killed due to the crash told the court the loss had broken them, with the ute's driver saying she "believed [she] was going to die".What's next?The teenage driver, who pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing death earlier this year, will be sentenced next week.abc.net.au/news/act-family-teen-killed-crash-never-ending-pain-court-hears/105254266Link copiedShareShare articleFamily members of two teenagers killed in a crash on the Barton Highway last January have told the ACT Supreme Court they have been broken by the loss, after the 14-year-old driver ran a red light in a stolen car, colliding with a ute.Warning: This story contains confronting images.The driver pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing death earlier this year.A 19-year-old died soon after the crash, as emergency services raced the injured to hospital.Another boy, who was catastrophically injured, died in hospital in Sydney eight months later.Mother left 'numb and struggling to live'On Monday during sentencing, the mother of the older victim told the court she has been left with many "what if" questions, and wondering why he got into the situation"I am numb and struggling to live," his mother said."The pain I feel is never ending."A 19-year-old passenger died in the collision, while another teenage passenger later died of his injuries. (Supplied: ACT Policing)The mother of the younger boy, who was only 14 at the time, also described her enormous feeling of loss."I will never be able to forgive the offender for what he did," she told the court.The boy's family spent many months in Sydney by his hospital bedside before he passed away.'I believed I was going to die': Ute driverThe woman driving the ute told the court she has suffered flashbacks and nightmares since."I believed I was going to die," she told the court."I re-live that night every time I drive through that intersection."Other evidence in court on Monday came from a crash expert, who said it appeared the brakes were applied, although there were no marks on the road.A report showed the car was travelling at between 57 and 60 kilometres per hour at impact, with the ute at a similar speed.That's below the speed limit in the area of 80kph.Crash was first time boy had ever driven a carDirector of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel told the court while the boy was not impacted by drugs or alcohol, he was impaired by his inability to drive. (Supplied: ACT Policing)The ACT's Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel told the court there was also no evidence of the boy being affected by drugs and alcohol, but that didn't mean it wasn't an aggravated offence.The court heard it was the first time the boy had ever driven a car, after he stole it earlier in the evening.She said he was impaired by his complete inability to drive."He had no business being behind the wheel of a car," Ms Engel said.By the time of the crash he had three passengers, including the two who died."The danger was realised with the loss of two lives," Ms Engel said."He had the most obvious warning — there was a red light and he drove through that."The boy's lawyer, David Bloomfield, acknowledged the tragedy and said his client had made a terrible decision and was now facing the consequences.But he said the boy's heavy immaturity should be taken into account and a lengthy jail term would "heap hurt on hurt and tragedy on tragedy".Mr Bloomfield said the boy was at risk of institutionalisation and in need for positive influences.Justice David Mossop will sentence the boy next week.Posted 16m ago16 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:58amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesAndrew Hastie drops out of Liberal leadership raceLIVEPhoto shows Hastie gestures with one hand while speaking at a press conference in a parliament house courtyard.Albanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleRecord-breaking number of women to enter ParliamentTopic:VotingPhoto shows a composite image of three womenNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows A man in a shirt and hat.Related storiesTeen pleads guilty after killing two people with a stolen carTopic:CourtsPhoto shows ACT Supreme Court, Magistrates Court, building, genericTeenager facing more charges after a second passenger dies from Barton Highway crash injuriesTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsPhoto shows The scene of a car crash at night.Fourteen-year-old Canberra boy accused of driving stolen car in crash that killed 'mate' released on bailTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsPhoto shows The scene of a car crash at night.Related topicsACTCanberraCourtsRoad Accidents and IncidentsTop StoriesAndrew Hastie drops out of Liberal leadership raceTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Hastie gestures with one hand while speaking at a press conference in a parliament house courtyard.Albanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsRecord-breaking number of women to enter ParliamentTopic:VotingNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InCanberra families of teens killed in crash tell of 'never ending' painTopic:Courts16m ago16 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:58amPiastri a winner again, but 'poorly executed' Griddy proves he is humanTopic:Formula 132m ago32 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:42amMan jailed for 'bizarre' theft of car with woman and child insideTopic:Crime33m ago33 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:40am'Magic of friendship' on show at Bangtail Muster in Alice SpringsTopic:Carnivals and Festivals34m ago34 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 7:39amMore Just InBack to top