Riley Starbuck sentenced in court for causing extensive damage to cars and home in Ocean Grove

This was a different kind of Starbuck’s chain - with a teen’s domino-effect car crash serving up a triple shot of damage.

Riley Starbuck leaving the Geelong Magistrates' Court.

A 19-year-old driver “hooning” in Ocean Grove with a car full of passengers caused a chain-reaction smash involving another vehicle and a house and then ran from the scene.

Riley Starbuck, now living in Airport West, pleaded guilty to careless driving in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was placed on an adjourned undertaking.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable David Vanderpol said Starbuck was driving a car in Ocean Grove with his four friends on December 10, 2022, before losing control .

The court heard a witness had seen a car full of teenagers “hooning” in the area of Loch Ard Dr.

Constable Vanderpol said Starbuck lost control of the car when he attempted to make a turn before careering out of control and up the driveway of a home, colliding into the rear of a victim’s vehicle.

The resulting collision caused extensive damage to the vehicle, which also rolled into the front of the home, causing damage to the property.

Constable Vanderpol said Starbuck and the other passengers then got out of the car and left the scene.

The court heard Starbuck handed himself to police and during his interview, he said he turned a corner sharply, which resulted in him hitting the back of another car.

“I panicked, got scared and ran away,” he told police.

Starbuck’s lawyer said his client had paid for the damages to his friend’s car, as well as the victim’s car.

Magistrate Steven Raleigh convicted Starbuck and placed him on an adjourned undertaking for the next 12 months.

“This driving is one of the worst careless driving (cases) I have heard in 30 years. He hit a car, pushed it so hard, it hit the front of a house,” Mr Raleigh said.

Originally published as Riley Starbuck sentenced in court for causing extensive damage to cars and home in Ocean Grove