Tyson Agius: Learner driver sentenced after fleeing horror crash

A Gippsland learner driver has been sentenced after he fled the scene of a serious crash and “abandoned” his three mates who he left to die.

Tyson sentenced for four years at the County Court

A learner driver who left his mates to die after “driving like an idiot” and causing a horror crash that left his friend a quadriplegic has been sentenced to four years in a youth justice centre.

Tyson Agius, 19 of Gippsland, pleaded guilty to one count of endangering life and one count of negligently causing serious injury in the County Court on June 16.

Agius and his three mates went four-wheel driving in Driffield during a night of drinking on April 7, 2020.

Agius was driving “like an idiot” and his friends told him to slow down.

Around 9.45pm, Agius lost control of the car after attempting a manoeuvre to provoke an “adrenaline rush” but instead, hit a tree and left one friend quadriplegic.

The court heard the victim was stuck in the rear seat, couldn’t feel his arms and legs, and screamed repeatedly: “I’m going to die”.

Agius fled the scene and continued to remain scarce until police found him hidden under a bed at his mum’s place over three hours later.

On Friday Judge Bill Stuart said that decision was “self-centred” and “immature”.

“You are an immature young man, you are innumerate and illiterate.”

“It was you who made that decision to drive with the three passengers, only you were responsible for their safety,” he said.

“Frankly it’s surprising that all four of you survived the collision.”

Judge Stuart said an adult prison was the “last place” Agius should be sent.

Instead he said: “Detention in a youth justice centre is the appropriate disposition in this case, at the very highest of the maximum penalty”.

Agius was also fined $300 for the summary offence and his licence was disqualified for a period of four years.