Driver Mark Darren Burns strikes plea bargain deal with prosecutors over triple fatal crash in June 2015
A MAN who was accused of causing a triple fatal crash that left two children orphaned now faces 12 months behind bars, instead of 15 years, due to a plea bargain with prosecutors.
A MAN who was accused of causing a triple fatal crash that left two children orphaned now faces 12 months behind bars, instead of 15 years, due to a plea bargain with prosecutors.
In the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday, Mark Darren Burns pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of driving without due care.
In exchange, prosecutors withdrew allegations he had caused the deaths of Bradley and Rebecca Thomas, and promising hockey player Jackson Tudhope, by dangerous driving.
The deal means that, instead of a potential 15-year jail term, Burns now faces a maximum 12 months’ in prison.
The minimum period of licence disqualification he will be liable to serve is six months, rather than 10 years.
Burns, 41, of Bridgewater, was initially accused of killing Mrs Thomas, 36, her husband, 32, and Mr Tudhope, 14, on the Yorke Peninsula last June.
Mrs Thomas died at the scene, while Mr Thomas and Jackson, a promising hockey player who represented the state, were rushed to hospital but died several days later.
Mr and Mrs Thomas, who left behind two children, were travelling in a different car to Jackson — police alleged Burns was driving a third car that was undamaged in the collision.
Prosecutors flagged the plea bargain in May but Magistrate Simon Smart refused to allow it because it had yet to be considered by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Magistrate Nick Alexandrides remanded Burns on continuing bail to face sentencing submissions next month.