Bilpin crash: Driver Jordan Brown ‘was on drugs’

A YOUNG driver made his first court appearance yesterday for his role in a two-car smash that killed three of his mates northwest of Sydney in August.

Jordan Brown appears in Windsor Court regarding a fatal car crash.Jordan Brown

A YOUNG driver made his first court appearance yesterday for his role in a two-car smash that killed three of his mates northwest of Sydney in August.

Jordan Brown, 20, appeared at Windsor Local Court to face three charges of driving occasioning death and a string of other offences, including driving under the influence of drugs, which related to the fatal crash at Bilpin.

Northern beaches friends Lachlan Burleigh, 17, Ben Sawyer, 19 and Luke Shanahan, 21, died when the car they were travelling in, driven by Brown, collided head-on with a vehicle driven by an 84-year-old woman, Barbara McLaren.

Three young men died the Mitsubishi Outlander they were passengers in hit a Subaru Imprezza on the Bells Line of Rd in August.

The accident, which left Mrs McLaren with serious injuries, occurred on the notorious Bells Line of Road at 3.30pm on August 30.

In a brief hearing, a magistrate granted an adjournment to December 10 with a brief of evidence to be served by December 17.

Brown also faces charges of dangerous driving occasioning actual bodily harm and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. His bail was extended.

The crash sparked an outpouring of grief after the tight knit group of mates were killed coming around a right hand bend on the way back from a dance festival “Psyfari” near Lithgow.

Crash victim Ben Sawyer. Picture: Facebook

Luke Shanahan, who died in the accident. Picture: Facebook

The youngest crash victim Lachlan Burleigh . Picture: Facebook

Barbara McLaren, who sustained serious injuries in the accident.

The youngest of the group, Oxford Falls Grammar HSC student Lachlan Burleigh, had been planning to study marine biology at university in 2017 and was described as a “beautiful boy that had everything going for him”.

His headmaster Geoff Fouracre said the loss was compounded by Lachlan’s mother working as a nurse at the school and his aunt being a teacher.

“He was loved and adored by the teachers many of whom have known him his whole life,” he said.

“He was known as a happy go lucky student who enjoyed life to the full. His love was the ocean and the surf.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird leaving the funeral service of Ben Sawyer at St Mary's Catholic Church in Manly.

All three of the young men were remembered lovingly by family and friends in the Northern Beaches community when they were laid to rest.

Ben Sawyer’s older brother Matt speaking at his funeral, which was attended by NSW Premier Mike Baird, in Manly’s St Mary’s Catholic Church said he always made people happy.

“You are able to bring smiles to so many people in my short 19 years with you,” he said.

Tim Stanton, a close friend of Luke Shanahan, posted a tribute photo collage on Facebook: “Wish I could wake up and this was all a bad dream. Still can’t comprehend your gone, thanks for the good times and being a legend.”