Padthaway man, St Peters College graduate James Paul Bryson jailed after horrific fatal crash at Willalooka

Grossly drunk, this private school graduate sped through a give-way sign at 136km/h when he smashed into the car of a beloved Victorian couple. Now he’s been jailed.

A former private schoolboy has been jailed for up to eight years after drunkenly killing a loving couple in a horror high-speed crash, with a judge saying his choice to drive nearly four times over the blood alcohol limit had “devastating consequences”.

James Paul Bryson, 22, from Padthaway, appeared in the District Court in front of Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett on Thursday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving.

Victorian couple Dennis Frazer, 77, and Deborah Thomson, 65, were killed in a crash, caused by car driven by James Bryson - who has been jailed.

James Bryson of Padthaway

Bryson admitted to colliding with the driver’s side of the car carrying Dennis Frazer, 77, and Deborah Thomson, 65, at 136km/h in the state’s South-East – killing them on impact in a crash so ferocious they could be identified only by their dental records.

Judge Barrett accepted Bryson was “truly remorseful”, but acknowledged the lives of his victims and their families were “irrevocably changed”.

“Data from the utility you were driving – and your mobile phone – demonstrates that at one stage along Willalooka Rd you were travelling at 152km/h,” Judge Barrett said.

“You’ve lived most of your life in nearby Padthaway or Naracoorte – the area cannot have been unfamiliar to you.

Brian Frazer told the court he now has “less energy” and “less joy” since his brother’s death. Picture: RoyVPhotography

James Bryson, in the white shirt, leaves court in Mount Gambier with supporters after he pleaded guilty. Picture: Jessica Dempster

“Background information about your movements suggests that this driver dereliction does not stand alone.

“You committed only one criminal act of driving, but your driving killed two people.”

On the morning of Saturday, November 18, 2023, Bryson was behind the wheel of a Toyota Ute after a night of drinking when he collided with a Ford Territory carrying Mr Frazer and Ms Thomson at the intersection of the Riddoch Highway and McGrice Rd in Willalooka.

The couple, from Victoria, died at the scene and became the 99th and 100th people to die on SA’s roads last year.

Outside court, Mr Frazer’s brother Brian said while he respected the court’s decision, it “provided no real justice for the tragic and avoidable deaths” of his beloved brother Dennis and sister-in-law Deb.

An aerial photo of the scene of the crash. Picture: 7NEWS

“We always knew that no sentence would,” he said. “We are all losers here.

“Dennis and Deb were fit and healthy people with many years of living and loving in front of them. Their sudden deaths have left a great emptiness – for family, friends and neighbours.

“We want to thank the first-responders and fellow road users at Willalooka who, on an early Saturday morning in November 2023, treated two strangers – with badly battered bodies – with care and respect.”

Judge Barrett sentenced Bryson to nine years’ imprisonment – reduced to eight years, one month and seven days.

He issued a non-parole period of six years, five months and 24 days, and disqualified Bryson from driving for 14 years upon his release from prison.