Philip Nguyen fronts court over serious driving charges

A learner driver who let four drunk women, including several under age, to sit on the roof of his car as he drove erratically in Altona caused one to suffer serious injuries after they fell.

Learner driver Philip Nguyen drove a Mini Cooper with four young women on its roof at Altona.

A learner driver who had four drunk young women — several of them underage — on the roof of a car celebrating their team’s success in the Rugby World Cup drove erratically and dangerously, causing three of them to crash to the ground.

The tragedy unfolded at Altona foreshore and surrounding streets on October 31, 2022 when Samoans gathered for a parade to celebrate their team’s success at the Rugby League World Cup.

Learner driver Philip Nguyen, 23, who was driving a friend’s Mini Cooper that evening, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Tuesday to charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, recklessly causing injury and failing to render assistance after an accident.

Court documents stated that about 7.30pm on October 31, 2022 Chyeann Sao, 20, and 17-year-old Margaret Paisa who had been drinking climbed atop the Mini Cooper, driven by Nguyen, which they recognised from another rugby celebration.

Ms Sao used her phone to record the parade from atop the vehicle. They got off when the car stopped and later that evening, they saw the Mini Cooper and climbed back on it to join 17-year-old Kelesi Mapa and 21-year-old Latonga.

Learner driver Philip Nguyen was driving a Mini Cooper with four young women on its roof at a parade in Altona to celebrate Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup victory. Picture: Supplied

Nguyen started accelerating and driving erratically while loud music and was being played and Ms Paisa was filming the parade.

As soon as Ms Paisa said “Bro, if we fall off, I swear to God” Nguyen took a sharp turn and everyone except Ms Sao fell onto the road.

Ms Sao filmed Ms Paisa and Ms Mapa as they lay on the road unconscious and laughed with Nguyen.

The court heard Nguyen drove for about 50 metres before he reversed then drove away. About 10 minutes later, he returned but drove past the scene.

Ms Paisa was taken to The Royal Melbourne Hospital where she remained in a coma for two weeks before receiving life saving brain surgery.

Ms Mapa received minor injuries.

Ms Paisa provided a statement to police in which she said she held no animosity towards Nguyen and did not blame him for the incident.

Nguyen will be back in court for continuation of his plea hearing on Thursday.