Families of three people killed in Yorke Peninsula crash tell of grief as driver Mark Darren Burns apologises in court
THE families of two parents and another teenage boy killed in a horror long-weekend crash on the Yorke Peninsula have told of their grief and anger at their “life sentence” during an emotional court hearing.
THE families of two parents and another teenage boy killed in a horror long weekend crash have told of their grief and anger at their “life sentence” during an emotional court hearing.
Bradley Thomas, 32, his wife, Rebecca, 36, and 13-year-old Jackson Tudhope died in the Yorke Peninsula crash on June 6 last year caused by the negligent driving of Mark Darren Burns, 41.
Mr and Mrs Thomas, who left behind two children, were returning to Golden Grove from a family holiday from Wallaroo while Jackson was travelling home to Kadina after a state hockey carnival in Adelaide.
Burns failed to see Mr Thomas’ blue Ford Territory as he drove his white Toyota Landcruiser into the intersection of the Copper Coast and Yorke Highways at Beaufort about 11.15am on the holiday Monday.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court heard on Monday how Mr Thomas took “evasive” action, then overcorrected on the gravel verge before their car smashed into a silver Holden Epica, carrying Jackson and his parents Bronwyn Starick and Malcolm Tudhope.
Jackson, a gifted sportsman, died three days later in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital after his seriously injured parents made the “agonising” decision to switch off his life support on their wedding anniversary.
Mr Thomas’ stepdaughter Charlotte, now 12, and son Hudson, now 5, were also injured and the little boy is an orphan living with his grandparents.
Burns, a landscaper of Bridgewater — who has previous driving convictions including for drink driving — was originally charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious harm by dangerous driving.
After a plea bargain deal with prosecutors — which has angered the families — the more serious charges were dropped and he subsequently pleaded guilty to a lesser count of aggravated count of driving without due care.
In a series of powerful victim impact statements read to a packed court on Monday, Jackson’s mother and father and Mr Thomas’ parents, Ian and Jenny, told of their ongoing devastation.
Mrs Starick, whose other teenage son, Connor, had stayed home but saw the crash on social media, wept as she told how their lives had been “torn apart”.
“It was, and is, like my heart has been removed from my body,” she said, adding she could not forgive Burns.
“I am angry, heartbroken, depressed, and an emotional wreck. I can’t believe the stupid actions of one person can change the lives of so many innocent people. Every day is an emotional rollercoaster.”
Her husband, who wept alongside a police officer reading his statement, added: “Life is now hard. As a father I am someone who looks after my family. I did not do this.”
Mr Thomas’ parents, of Modbury Heights, also wept as they revealed the challenges of raising their grandson.
“Our lives have been an absolute living nightmare,” they said. “We are completely devastated, heartbroken, frustrated and angry at what has happened. We have been affected physically, emotional and financially.
“We feel like we have committed a crime as we have been given a life sentence.”
Burns, who was not drunk or on drugs, using his mobile phone or fatigued, wept as he apologised for his “ill advised” actions at not seeing the approaching cars.
“I will not be able to forgive myself,” he said. “All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies.”
Burns’ lawyer Michael Woods urged a suspended jail sentence but Prosecutor Renee Loveday said only an immediate prison was appropriate for the “worst and most serious” driving.
Burns, who declined comment, will be sentenced next week.
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