The teen driver of a car that was allegedly reaching speeds of 135 km/h when it crashed in North Lakes in July, killing a 18-year-old passenger, has asked the court for permission to drive tractors on his family’s farm as part of his bail conditions.
The 17-year-old driver, who cannot be named, appeared in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday where he formally had dangerous driving charges upgraded to manslaughter.
Nick Campo, 18, was a talented sportsman and played for the South Fremantle Football Club colts side.
Nick Campo, a promising South Fremantle Football Club player, died on July 13 after the ute he was a passenger in crashed, rolled and collided with an SUV on Farrington Road.
Campo died at the scene, while the driver and three other male passengers of the ute (17, 18, 18) were rushed to hospital with various injuries.
The male driver (26) and female passenger (27) of the SUV were also taken to hospital, with minor injuries.
Campo’s parents, Daniel and Bianca, have since campaigned on his behalf, launching Call Out for Nick to help educate young drivers and their parents on road risks.
The couple, who have two other children, said they were living “the worst nightmare that you could imagine” after the death of their son, an Aquinas College student.
The young driver of the ute Campo was in was initially charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm.
Last month those charges were upgraded to manslaughter.
On Tuesday his lawyer asked the court for an adjournment, stating that Major Crash investigators and the Department of Prosecution were still gathering material.
He also asked the court for a “slight variation” on his bail conditions, which currently included a driving ban, stating that the boy would return to his family’s farm after his exams had finished at the end of the year, which would include driving tractors.
Daniel and Bianca Campo, parents of Nick Campo.
The amendment means the boy can only drive tractors on his own property with no passengers.
Campo’s father told Gary Adshead on Radio 6PR last week that the driver had allegedly reached 135 km/h and lost control of the car, which had allegedly been extensively modified, with seat belts “tucked up” behind the back seat, airbags removed, a sway bar removed and the passenger seat facing the rear.
Campo urged parents to inspect their children’s cars and discourage them from getting late-night lifts home with friends who had only just got their licences.
But he took heart that people were having conversations about teenage reckless driving and said it was “helping us a lot” as he and his wife tried to challenge an entrenched culture.
“Reaching down for your phone; a couple of extra beers are the pub; it can cause disastrous consequences,” he told Adshead.
“I don’t want you, your wife, anyone … to ever, ever have to stand over their son’s coffin like we had to do.
“I know it’s a cliche, but it has to start today, don’t ever think this won’t happen to you.
“It’s like being thrown into a jail cell, they put the lock on and we know we’ll never get out.”
The teen accused will be back before the court on November 7.
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