Horror Tootgarook crash leaves teenager dead, another fighting for life
Friends of a local teenager killed in a horror Mornington Peninsula crash say he was a keen skater who wanted to go to university and do “something big” with his life. A 17-year-old in the same crash is still critical in hospital.
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A Mornington Peninsula student killed in a horror smash this morning is being remembered by mates as a talented skater who wanted to “become something big”.
Rosebud year 12 student Timothy Hocking, 17, died when the car he was a passenger in hit a roundabout and smashed into a tree during a drive through the backstreets of Tootgarook.
Four of Timothy’s friends, who were also in the car, were taken to hospital.
Charlie, 18, and Ziggy, 17, came to lay flowers for their mate and said Timothy was a great skater and a hard worker.
“His mum’s world’s wrecked,” Charlie said.
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Close friend and skating mate Ziggy was devastated by the news.
“He was not even a friend, he was more like a brother,” Ziggy said.
There were four 17-year-olds including Timothy in the black Mazda, which was being driven by a 21-year-old friend, when things went horribly wrong about 1.15am this morning.
The P-plate driver hit a roundabout at the corner of Field and Marshall streets at speed, causing the car to smash into a tree.
Timothy was the front seat passenger and died on impact.
A friend in the back seat suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The force of the impact threw the car back on to the street and spun it around.
Police say they’re at a loss as the road toll continues to rise, saying the road safety message “isn’t getting through” to drivers.
Neighbours woke to a deafening bang and rushed outside to find a mangled car wreck and a group of young men in a bad way.
“We woke up to this horrible crash sound,” neighbour Heather Wittmer said.
“There were two boys lying down next to the car.
“One was moaning and the other was on his side. He was bleeding badly from the head.
“I was trying to keep one of them awake. I was holding his hand, talking to him.
“His legs looked not straight.”
Ms Wittmer said the driver was wobbly on his legs when he got out of the car and he looked like he was in shock.
This morning was the second time a car has hit that tree in the past six months.
Residents say the street, which runs parallel to Point Nepean Rd, is a popular alternative to the main road and people hoon along it.
Police say the five young mates in the car were all locals.
Friend Ziggy said Timothy was a Rosebud year 12 student and wanted to do big things, before his life was cut tragically short.
“He wanted to go to uni and become something big,” Ziggy said.
“He was a really good skater, one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
The 17-year-old front passenger died when this black Mazda hit the roundabout at speed before slamming into a tree. The 21-year-old P-plate driver and another three 17-year-olds are also in hospital. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/iNXxsrkwva
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) April 11, 2019
Detective Sergeant Darren Williams from the Major Collision Investigation Unit said the impact crashes like these have is immense and he doesn’t know how to get the message through to drivers, as the road toll ahead of the notorious Easter period keeps rising.
“The (road safety) message isn’t getting through,” he said.
“As a result of this, there’s hundreds, if not thousands, of people that are going to be affected by not only this one kid’s death but the injuries sustained by the others.
“They will never be the same again.”
The detective said the impacts of the crash would be felt forever by his family and the community.
“When you lose a young kid not even experienced in life, he’s gone,” he said.
“His life’s gone. His family’s life is over.
“That’s another family that’s life will never be the same again.
“The people that turn up to these crashes will never be the same again.”
Despite their best efforts, neighbours who heard the crash and rushed outside could not save the young boy, but were able to comfort the other people in the car.
“Neighbours heard the crash early this morning and they were able to come out and assist,” Detective Sergeant Williams said.
“They were able to help the people, the walking wounded.”
Victoria’s road toll, at 92, has now surged to the highest it has been for this time of year in half a decade.
This morning’s tragic death prompted one of the state’s top road cops to plead for people to take more care.
“Another community is now reeling with the grief,” Road Policing Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Neville Taylor said.
“In April alone, we’ve had 11 people lose their lives.
“The carnage and wreckage of some of the scenes our police attend speak in volume to the devastation a split second decision can have.”
He urged people to come together as a community to stop the deaths.
“Think of your family, your friends. If you see bad driver behaviour – hold them accountable,” he said.
“Foster good driving habits for your kids.
“Remember, it’s your life and those around you whose lives are at risk.”