Oscar Walters fronts court over dangerous driving causing death

A night out celebrating the AFL grand final turned tragic for a group of friends when their car being driven by a P-plater crashed, killing a mate who was riding in the boot.

Jake Munday, 19, was killed in a single vehicle crash in Cowes after he was thrown out of a car that was driven by his mate Oscar Waters.

A P-plater who had been drinking while out celebrating the AFL grand final killed his mate who was in the boot of his car and injured two others after losing control at an intersection on Phillip Island.

Oscar Waters fronted the County Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Jake Munday and three charges of reckless conduct endangering the lives of three mates in Cowes.

Court documents stated Waters and his mates Mr Munday, Darcy Hilford, Luke Tomkins and Eden Genoni were out celebrating the AFL grand final on Phillip Island on September 30, 2023.

Oscar Waters leaves County Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his mate Jake Munday in Cowes.

Waters got into the driver’s seat of his Subaru and the rest, excluding Mr Munday, got into the car and left the a hotel at Phillip Island about 11.25pm. Mr Halford invited Mr Munday to sit in the back seat after the latter jumped into the boot but he replied “Nah I will be fine”.

As Waters approached a roundabout on Justice Rd at speed, Mr Hilford became scared and asked then driver to slow down.

Waters lost control after the rear passenger side wheel clipped a gutter and the car rotated clockwise before sliding into trees.

Mr Genoni dragged an unconscious Mr Tomkins out while Mr Hilford suffered a cut to his head. Mr Munday was lying unconscious on his back behind the car, had a pulse but his breathing appeared to be obstructed.

The mangled wreck of Oscar Waters' Subaru that he crashed at speed in Cowes, killing his mate Jake Munday.

Mr Genoni put him in the recovery position before a member of the public performed CPR until paramedics arrived but he died at the scene.

When asked by paramedics whether he had consumed any alcohol, Waters replied “just drank a little bit” and said he wasn’t speeding but couldn’t remember how fast he was going.

A blood sample taken 25 minutes following the accident revealed an alcohol reading of 0.045.

Waters was unfit to be interviewed immediately after the accident and declined to do so later.

Judge Carolene Gwynn ordered a report on Waters suitability for youth detention which was not opposed by the Crown.

He was remanded on bail for a plea hearing on April 10.