Heartbroken dad of Buxton crash victim breaks down after driver in court

A father who lost his son in a horrific crash on Sydney’s outskirts broke down, telling reporters he has to see “what’s left” of his son in the morgue.

A father who lost his teenage son in a horror crash that killed four of his friends on Tuesday night in Sydney’s outskirts has broken down talking about his loss.

On Thursday, Exaven DeSisto told 9 News he had to go visit “whatever’s left” of his son Antonio DeSisto, who died in the horror crash in Buxton earlier this week.

“I have to go see my son in a f***ing morgue,” Mr DeSisto said.

“I have to go see him, whatever’s left of him, and I don’t even want to go see him, but I need to go see him.”

Exaven DeSisto, father of Buxton crash victim Antonio DeSisto, cries outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The heartbroken father put his sons trainers underneath a tree at the crash site. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

He spoke of how he would attend church with his son, who would pray before “every meal he put in his mouth.”

“He was my best friend, he literally never left my side,” the distressed father said.

“We did everything together. I brought him up and he was just the most happy and humble.”

“He was a blessed man,” he said.

Mr DeSisto hugging police outside Picton Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The sole survivor of the crash, 18-year-old Tyrell Edwards, has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, having been arrested just hours after leaving hospital on Wednesday.

Police alleged in Picton Local Court on Thursday Mr Edwards was behind the wheel and driving dangerously when a Nissan Navara ute lost control and left the road before hitting a tree on East Parade in Buxton just after 8pm on Tuesday.

Mr Edwards appeared via video link from Narellan Police Station where he was refused bail, as the magistrate learned of his speeding history and previous license suspensions.

According to court documents, police located a video on Mr Edwards’ phone taken roughly an hour before the crash that showed him driving dangerously while travelling at speeds of around 90 km/h.

Mr Edwards is seen holding his phone with one hand while “purposely and aggressively” turning the wheel with the other as the vehicle swerves “violently”, court documents stated.

Buxton crash survivor Tyrell Edwards (right) and victim Antonio DeSisto (left) on the back of the Nissan Navara a few months ago. Picture: Instagram.

Police allege there were a total of six people sitting inside the cabin of the four-seater ute on Tuesday night, with five of them killed in the crash.

Mr Edwards was found lying next to the wreckage on Tuesday night before he was wheeled into an ambulance on a stretcher and taken to Liverpool Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Mr Edwards was released into the care of his mother on Wednesday morning, and arrested in Bargo at about 1.50pm.

Officers took him to Narellan Police Station, where he was assisting with inquiries.

“After the man was released from hospital, he was arrested in Bargo and taken to Narrellan Police Station where he was charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous,” police said in a statement on Wednesday night.

“The Bargo man has been refused bail and will appear at Picton Local Court tomorrow (Thursday).

“As investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash continue, police are appealing for anyone with dashcam or social media footage to come forward.”

Tyrell Edwards faced Picton Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

The victims were all aged between 14 and 16.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, one of the girls’ fathers revealed a haunting five-word text message she sent before her death.

“Dad, can I go out tonight?” the 14-year-old asked.

“The answer would have been no, it was a school night, but I never got the text,” the father said. He didn’t receive it because he was in hospital at the time.

Earlier in the day, friends of the victims visited the crash scene, with one girl breaking down as she said she could have prevented it from happening.

Ellie Mount, who is best friends with the two girls and was also invited out last night, has broken down at the scene on Wednesday.

Ellie Mount visited the site on Wednesday after losing two of her best friends in the crash at Buxton, in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Ellie was in tears when she told media she could have prevented the crash. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

“I played soccer with them … you know, they were always there and to think that they texted me last night asking if I wanted to hang out with them,” she told media through tears.

“I could have got mum to pick them up … I could have prevented it, I don’t know what to do.”

A neighbour of one of the teenagers killed, Louis Dimech, took to Facebook saying the boy had “lived a rough life”.

“Such a tragic end for him … so sad. The other kids on our street are going to be devastated,” Mr Dimech wrote.

Blaise Cox, who is also friends with one of the girls who was killed, was at the scene of the crash early on Wednesday morning carrying flowers.

Heartbroken friends make their way to the scene of a fatal crash to lay flowers. Picture: John Grainger/Daily Telegraph

Locals leave the scene of a fatal crash after paying their respect. Picture: John Grainger/Daily Telegraph

She told the Today Show she was still feeling “a bit shocked and still finding it hard to believe”.

“She was my best friend and she was like an older sister to me.”

“Unfortunately, we do come across traumatic scenes far too often,” Acting Inspector Jason Hogan said.

He described the situation as “inherently dangerous” and said that it still unknown if the teens were wearing seatbelts.

“The scene was extremely traumatic,” Inspector Hogan said of the police officers who attended the scene.

“It would have been extremely confronting.”

Ellie Mount was best friends with two of the deceased young teens. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Ellie had planned to go out with her friends last night. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

NSW Ambulance Acting Inspector Matt Johnston said CPR was attempted by neighbours and then by first responders upon arrival.

However, the victims were unable to be revived.

“It is an extremely distressing and disturbing day for the entire public education system,” NSW Department of Education Deputy Secretary Murat Dizdar said.

Mr Dizdar said he had spoken with the teens school principal Warren Parkes who was overseeing counselling services for both students and staff.

Neighbours Amanda Stenos and Nathan Pace – who was first at the scene of the crash site – were lost for words. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Flowers laid at the scene of the crash. Picture: NCA Newswire

Nathan Pace, who is a neighbour, was one of the first on the scene after the crash.

He ran out to find the mangled car and immediately called triple-0.

“No one wants to witness what this man witnessed last night,” neighbour Amanda Stenos said.

Wollondilly Shire Council Mayor Matt Gould spoke with ABC News on Wednesday morning saying it was “heartbreaking for the whole community”.

“We only have one public high school, so many people know somebody that’s been involved in this,” he said.

A local mother shares her grief at the site of the crash. Picture Today Show

A tow truck driver is seen removing the remains of the car at the Buxton crash site where 5 young teenagers were tragically killed in an accident. Picture: NCA Newswire

A tow truck takes the barely recognisable car away from the scene. Picture: NCA Newswire

Originally published as Heartbroken dad of Buxton crash victim breaks down after driver in court