Edgeworth crash: Driver charged with injuring Tamika Wever in crash has appalling driving record
A teenage driver who has been charged over a Lake Macqaurie crash that injured 10 people — including a young mother who is fighting for her life — had crashed a stolen car in another incident earlier this year.
Newcastle
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A teenager who allegedly ran a red light and crashed into a loaded maxi-taxi injuring 10 people in Lake Macquarie was on a good behaviour bond for crashing a stolen car while drunk less than two months ago.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified, had never held a licence when he was disqualified from driving, fined a total of $350 and placed on a 12-month bond for the August 2 incident in Merewether.
The boy had registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.099 when police arrived at the Merewether street about 8.55am on August 2 after receiving numerous reports from residents of a car speeding through the suburb for two hours.
Eight weeks later, the teen is accused of running a red light in a Holden Statesman packed with teenagers and crashing into a crowded maxi-taxi, the impact pushing the Hiace van onto its side.
Young mother-of-three Tamika Wever remained unconscious and in a critical condition in John Hunter Hospital on Monday after receiving serious head injuries in the crash.
Ms Wever, 24, had just been at a pub in Edgeworth and was on her way home with fiancée Dylan Whitey and friends in the taxi when the crash occurred just after 1am.
The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, suffered serious internal injuries and remains in hospital. Another female passenger, 42, also suffered serious injuries as did three passengers in the Holden, including two 14-year-old girls.
Police have set up a critical incident investigation to examine whether they played any role after Lake Macquarie officers patrolling Edgeworth saw the Holden leave a service station on Main Rd, Edgeworth.
Police said the officers performed a U-turn to follow the vehicle “due to the manner of driving” before the Holden allegedly went through the red light and hit the taxi.
Police are also investigating whether the driver and some of his passengers, despite being injured, were attempting to run from the scene when officers arrived.
The alleged driver was charged with 15 offences including three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous, eight counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct in charge of a motor vehicle and disqualified driving.
Despite never holding a licence, the teenager was disqualified by a magistrate in August following the incident at Merewether on August 2.
The boy stole a car about 2.50am before police received multiple reports of a car driving erratically through Merewether between 6.30am and 8.30am that morning.
Officers found the stolen car crashed in a suburban street and the teen nearby.
He registered a bloody alcohol level of 0.099
He was charged with car theft, negligent driving, driving with a mid-range PCA and driving a car without ever holding a licence.
He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond for the car theft and drink-driving charges, fined $300 for negligent driving and a further $50 for never holding a licence.
He remains on remand after being refused bail on Sunday and again on Monday.
He will reappear in court on October 26.
Ms Wever’s friend Angie Smalley said the family were shattered and holding onto hope the “amazing mum” of three little boys would survive, while her fiancé recovered from a fractured femur.
“This has destroyed their lives, whether or not she makes it I don’t know,” Ms Smalley told The Daily Telegraph.
“He won’t be back to work for a long time.
“Then the mental and emotional side of it I can’t even imagine, he was in the car with her.
She has set up a GoFundMe page to support the family because: “they deserve it”.