Peakhurst crash killed teacher Gayle Gibson and her friend
An alleged drunk driver who has never held a licence has been charged with manslaughter after a stolen four-wheel drive smashed into a car killing two women — one of them a beloved Canterbury schoolteacher whose husband survived the carnage.
An alleged drunk driver who has never held a licence has been charged with manslaughter after a stolen four-wheel drive smashed into a car killing two women — one of them a beloved Canterbury schoolteacher whose husband survived the carnage.
Police allege Tyron Knodler, 21, was three times the legal limit in a stolen Toyota LandCruiser when he lost control, flipped over a concrete barrier and hurtled into a Honda Jazz in the oncoming lanes in Peakhurst on Tuesday night.
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The hatchback was carrying four friends coming home from dinner.
Canterbury Girls High School teacher Gayle Gibson, 62, who was sitting behind the driver, and Gold Coast woman Carol Chambers, 66, bore the brunt of the collisions and were killed.
Two other passengers, Ms Gibson’s husband Tony Giorgio, 58, and a second Gold Coast woman, 62, escaped with minor injuries.
Dozens of emergency service workers and bystanders desperately tried to extract the critically injured women. A Victoria Bitter beer carton was strewn across the road nearby.
Witnesses told Channel 9 Mr Giorgio was heard saying “my wife, my wife” after the Henry Lawson Dr crash.
Mr Giorgio and the injured woman were taken to St George Hospital before being released on Wednesday.
Police will allege Knodler was drunk and left before he was arrested 30 minutes later.
The Revesby man allegedly blew 0.166 before he was taken to hospital.
Last night he was charged with 11 offences, including two counts of manslaughter, failing to stop and render assistance after impact causing death and consuming alcohol while driving. He will face court today.
Police allege Knodler had stolen the four-wheel drive from Monterey on Monday.
A month ago he was sentenced to a six-month community corrections order a for theft.
Canterbury Girls High School principal Sue Holden said “Ms Gibson was a much loved member of staff”.
A father of a student at the school, George, said Mrs Gibson was always there for her students.
“A lot of the senior girls turned towards her for comfort and support,” he said.
“The kids reckoned she was the best one out of the school, for the support for the students and with her teaching — she had a good method of how she did things.
“She was a wonderful human being and had time for the kids.”