Buxton crash: unspeakable grief as community mourns tragic teens

Friends battling unfathomable grief, parents fighting to explain the unexplainable to devastated children, a community suspended in disbelief - Buxton is a town in mourning today.

Friends battling unfathomable grief, parents fighting to explain the unexplainable to devastated children, a community suspended in disbelief - Buxton is a town in mourning today.

The long, narrow stretch of uneven roadway where five young, promising lives ended so abruptly on Tuesday night transformed into a shrine of remembrance on Wednesday, as a steady stream of friends, family and strangers laid flowers in tribute to their lost loved ones.

The bright blooms punctuated the stark scene, which, despite the best efforts of meticulous clean-up crews, still bore evidence of the previous night’s carnage.

Shards of broken glass remained wedged in the large, brooding gumtree, while remnants of the Nissan Navara - a piece of headlight here, a fragment of wheel arch there - hinted at the sheer scope of the crime scene and the momentous task for forensic investigators who combed over the site gathering evidence and trying to piece together the last terrifying moments of five innocent young lives.

Many of the mourners who turned up to pay their respects were young, some arriving at the site dressed in the light blue uniform synonymous with Picton High.

A young girl is comforted at the crash site today. Picture: John Grainger

Most were accompanied by parents, eager to both protect and comfort their children as they sought to process the incomprehensible loss of five classmates in an instant.

Ellie Mount, who was close friends with two of the victims laid a bouquet at the scene of the crash, among the dozens of other floral tributes.

Flowers, postcards with heartfelt memories and ornaments were placed at the scene. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

“(They) were always there for me, I played soccer with them, they were always there.”

Ellie last spoke to her friends moments before they were picked up in the car last night.

“And to think they texted me last night asking me if I wanted to hang out with them,” she said.

“You know, I could have got mum to pick them up, it could have prevented it.

“I don’t know what to do.”

The heartbroken friend said she wanted her mates to be remembered as “amazing” people who always had her back.

“As friends they were amazing,” she said.

“Always looking out for me whether I was at a different school or not, they were always there.”

Flowers have been laid by family and friends at the crash site. Picture John Grainger

Jai Gorden was shocked to find out that one of his close friends was a victim of the crash.

“(It was) devastating this morning when I found out he was in the car as well,” the 14-year-old said.

“They were all really nice people (with) good hearts.”

Among the first to the horrific scene was Mary Pace and her family, whose property overlooks the crash site.

“We were here when it happened, obviously there’s no street lights but we could see everything,” she said.

“People had been launched out of the car, there was a few people in one spot and then there was a girl that was a bit further away.

“It’s so sad, they were all so young.”

Another young mourner told The Daily Telegraph news of the fatal crash spread quickly among students via Snapchat, the go-to communication tool for teens these days.

He said most of the close-knit school group knew of the tragedy by the time they arrived at the school gates on Wednesday morning.

However, for those that did not, the news was hard to bear.

Students hug at Picton High School on Tuesday morning after finding out 5 of their class mates were killed last night. Picture: John Grainger

In the hours after the bell first rang to start the day, the parents of those who were close to or had classes with the victims returned to collect their children - who were too distraught to go on.

“My daughter is friends with one of the kids and I know one of the mothers,” one woman told The Daily Telegraph through tears as she arrived.

“I found out this morning … this will have a huge impact, in a community like this everybody knows somebody (involved), it’s devastating.

“You’ve just got to support your kids and talk to them, we’re all just shattered.”

That woman laid flowers at the foot of the Picton High School sign at the front of the school, which were joined by other bouquets throughout the day.

‘Too early to consider extra restrictions for P-plates’: Premier

Premier Dominic Perrottet visited the school after the day had ended to avoid any fanfare.

He did not leave his large arrangement of flowers in public view, instead handing them to the principal before speaking with teachers.

Earlier he expressed condolences to the families of the those killed in the crash on behalf of his government.

“Our hearts go out to them at this very difficult time and I’m sure I share with all members today,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet went to the school to express his condolences to teachers at the end of the school day.

It is too early to consider whether extra restrictions should be placed on green P-plate drivers following the Buxton crash, Premier Dominic Perrottet says.

Mr Perrottet said he will “seek advice” on whether to tighten the rules allowing drivers on green P-plates to carry passengers, but said the immediate focus should be on grieving family and friends.

“I really don’t believe today is the time to talk about public policy decisions,” he said.

“This is a horrendous horrendous tragedy.

“We have families and friends in utter grief.”

Mr Perrottet again expressed his condolences to those people grieving after the crash.

He said counselling at Picton High School will stay in place while it is needed.

“Anything we can do to help that local community get through, we will,” he said.

Back at the crash site, those who were first on the scene the night before were trying to come to terms with their own emotions and asking themselves the perennial question: “could I have done more?”

Picton High peers arrived at the crash site before school, clad in the light blue uniforms synonymous with the local school. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

The answer, simply, is no.

David Pace knew as much when saw the gruesome scene strewn in front of him, just steps from the doorway to his home.

It’s not the first time the father-of-two has come across a sight so harrowing it will live in his memory forever.

The crash site on East Parade at Buxton, strewn with wreckage. Picture: John Grainger

During the height of the 2019 Black Summer bushfires, he was among the first to come across the crash that claimed the lives of firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer.

Three years on, he took one look at what lay in front of him and knew nothing could be done.

He also knew the close-knit community of Buxton was in for another round of heartache.

“I walked up to the car and I seen what I didn’t want to see,” he said.

“It wasn’t a pretty sight. There were just bodies, all tangled.”

Families talk to fire and rescue personnel. Picture: John Grainger

Locals said the sound of the impact when the vehicle hit the tree could be heard “miles away”.

“I will never forget that sound … it was almost explosion like,” a woman posted on Facebook.

“This will destroy the area … everyone knows everyone, we are all ruined by this,” a woman linked to a local soccer club said.

“These are young kids, best years of their lives ahead of them … gone in a flash, it’s unthinkable.”

A woman lays flowers at the crash scene. Picture: John Grainger

Friends of one of the crash victims arrive at the scene today. Picture: John Grainger

Flowers left at the scene today. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Kimberley Farrugia heard the sound of the crash despite her home being several doors away.

“I was outside, heard the crash, all big bangs.”

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Superintendent Adam Dewberry said first-responding firefighters are likely to have known the victims and that their wellbeing and recovery are a top priority moving forward.

“We’re very aware that communities like Picton and Buxton (that) there’s every chance our first responding firefighters who are on call could be responding to an incident where they know the person when (they’re) providing that initial emergency treatment.