Ryan Kimball’s killer crash driver sentenced in Maroochydore District Court

The parents of a 16-year-old boy who was killed in a horror crash on the Sunshine Coast in 2022 have vowed to never forgive the driver who killed him.

Ryan Kimball (pictured left) was only 16 when he was killed in a fatal accident at Bli Bli. Parents Annette and Graeme Kimball (pictured right) were surrounded by supporters as the driver who killed him was sentenced in court.

Shattered parents of much-loved teen car crash victim Ryan Kimball have vowed to never forgive the young driver behind the wheel when their son died.

Tears flowed in the Maroochydore District Court gallery on Friday, April 28, as a now-18-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons given his age at the time of the crash was sentenced for his crimes.

The driver, who was 17 at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore District Court to driving as a learner without supervision, driving without L plates displayed as a learner driver and using a phone while driving.

He earlier pleaded guilty on March 17 to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

It was standing room only in the courtroom as the public gallery was full and a cluster of people were forced to stand in the doorway.

Among the crowd were Graeme and Annette Kimball, parents of the much-loved Buderim teen who died last year, as well as the parents of the driver.

Some supporters of the Kimball family were seen wearing colourful “Rev for Ryan” shirts with a number 16 on the sleeve - the age Ryan was when he was killed.

The court was told Ryan was in the back seat of the then 17-year-old driver’s mother’s car on June 9, 2022 when, during a high-speed run on Finland Rd in Bli Bli, the young driver overtook a car, lost control and drove into a power pole, killing Ryan instantly.

Ryan Kimball.

The car reached speeds of between 120 and 180 km/h, up to three times the limit, while speeding up and down the road, the court was told.

The driver was an L-plater who had completed his 100 hours of driving but was yet to take his test, the court was told. He and Ryan did not know each other, but shared a mutual friend in a second passenger, who was uninjured in the crash, who had invited Ryan on the drive.

Heartbreaking victim impact statements from Mr and Mrs Kimball, Ryan’s younger brother, grandmother and uncle were read out by the prosecution to the court, in which they expressed how their lives had been forever altered by Ryan’s death.

Mr and Mrs Kimball were seen wiping away tears as the statements were read out.

Mrs Kimball’s statement recounted the last time she saw her son alive, saying they were packing clothes for a camp trip when he got a text message from a friend asking to come on a drive with him. She said no.

“I pleaded for him to stay home, because I just didn’t feel right and I didn’t know who the driver was,” she said.

“I should have listened to my instinct.”

Ryan Kimball. Picture: Facebook

The last thing she ever heard her son say to her was “I love you” as he waved goodbye through the kitchen window, shoes in hand, she said.

Ryan’s death “shattered” her and emotionally destroyed their family, she said.

Mr Kimball relived the moment he was told Ryan was killed when his second son, Ryan’s younger brother, ran at him screaming and crying saying “Ryan is dead” after he arrived at the crash site.

He said the 18-year-old driver was “not only responsible for killing (his) son, but he also killed (his) heart and soul that day”.

“Ryan was and always will be my pride and joy and my best mate,” Mr Kimball’s statement reads.

“You will never know or understand the amount of pain, trauma and grief you have inflicted onto my family and Ryan’s friends through your recklessness and stupidity all for a thrill.”

Mr Kimball said the last thing Ryan ever said to him was “good night, I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon”.

Mr Kimball has been diagnosed with PTSD after the crash.

Both Mr and Mrs Kimball said they will never accept an apology from the driver and do not believe he is remorseful for his actions.

In his statement read out by prosecutors Ryan’s little brother said the driver had killed someone “he loved so much” and what he had done “couldn’t be fixed”.

In a statement read out of behalf of Ryan’s cousin, who dialled in to listen to the proceedings, it said she had to break the news to Ryan’s friends and some of their parents.

“I still remember every (phone) call,” her statement read, stating she would feel the impact of Ryan’s death for the rest of her life.

Ryan Kimball was a popular teen.

Ryan’s grandmother said she “lost a wonderful grandson” and two days before his death had warned him about the dangers of reckless driving and the potential it could kill someone.

His uncle said he was “robbed of his nephew”.

“I won’t forgive, I won’t forget,” he said.

The court was told Ryan and the passenger had filmed the driving from inside the car, with Ryan filming the speedometer. Videos were also sent to Ryan’s friends, the court was told.

The driver did not film anything, however did touch his phone while behind the wheel, Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said the posting of the videos had nothing to do with his client, but some of them had been shared to a platform seeking to vilify him.

He told the court his client, who was 17 at the time, had been a passenger himself in a high-speed run along the same road weeks before the fatal crash. It was thought this contributed to his decision to mimic the same behaviour.

Mr Lewis said his client felt “confident” in his driving ability and his actions were “classic young male risk taking behaviour” - something Judge Glen Cash did not accept.

Mr Lewis said his client had left the Sunshine Coast to live with his father after the fatal crash and had not offended since.

He had completed a safe driving course, Mr Lewis said, and was described as a “well behaved young man” whose actions that day were out of character.

The court was told he was genuinely remorseful for his actions, had demonstrated genuine regret and had taken responsibility for his actions.

Ryan Kimball was passionate about boating.

He had previously been a volunteer lifesaver, the court was told, but after the accident had begun seeing a psychologist and had been suicidal requiring hospitalisation.

The 18-year-old was sentenced to 18 months’ detention suspended with an immediate release on a conditional release.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months also.

A conviction was not recorded.

Outside the courthouse, Mr Kimball told the media he was “very disappointed” in the sentence and was hoping for the driver to be placed in custody.

He criticised the youth crime laws, saying they were “too light”.

“When there’s a death involved, there doesn’t seem to be any amount of value in the loss of a child,” he said.

“People won’t understand … unless they’ve gone through this and lived it.”

His advice to anyone who felt unsafe in a car was to speak up and get out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible.

“Ryan didn’t stick his hand up to get himself out of the car. He found himself in a dangerous situation and just sat down to ride it out and he didn’t make it home,” he said.