First of five farewelled as Buxton crash driver seeks bail

The first of five teenage victims killed in a crash in Sydney’s southwest has been laid to rest, as the 18-year-old teenage driver charged over the tragedy prepares a plea to be freed on bail.

Family and friends of Tyrese Bechard at his funeral in Picton, southwest Sydney, on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The first of five teenagers killed in a crash in Sydney’s southwest has been laid to rest, as the 18-year-old driver charged over the tragedy prepares to plead with a NSW ­Supreme Court judge to be freed on bail.

Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell Tyrese Bechard, with friends and relatives remembering him as a “cheeky” young man with a “heart of gold”. The 16-year-old’s funeral was held at Picton’s HisHouse Church on Thursday, with the crowd standing as his coffin was brought in to the song Forever Young.

Tyrese, Lily Van de Putte, Summer Williams, Antonio Desisto, and Gabriella McLennan were killed when the ute in which they were travelling hit a tree on East Parade at Buxton on September 6.

The first of the Buxton crash victims Tyrese Bechard was farewelled in a funeral service on Thursday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Gabriella, 15, was in a relationship with Tyrese.

Parents of the other victims ­attended the funeral and were seen hugging the Bechard family.

The driver of the vehicle, Tyrell Edwards, was charged last week.

The P-plater will face a NSW ­Supreme Court registrar on Monday to set a date for a hearing for his release application.

Tyrese Bechard farewelled by family and friends. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Last Thursday Mr Edwards was refused bail by magistrate Mark Douglas on the grounds of his “problematic” driving history and that he had “no confidence” Mr Edwards would comply with bail conditions. “Given the blatant breach of road rules that police ­allege occurred, this court has no confidence that this particular person would comply, given the history I’ve explained, with any bail conditions the court set at this particular point in time,” he said.

People at the crash site in Buxton where five friends from Picton High School died in a single-vehicle car crash on Tuesday night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Picton Local Court heard Mr Edwards, who has only held a provisional licence since last year, had his licence suspended twice in less than 18 months for speeding.

“That was not enough, according to police, to stop what is a very serious course of dangerous driving, if proven.”

Court documents cite extensive video evidence captured on Mr Edwards’ mobile phone.

He is seen holding his phone with one hand while “purposely and aggressively” turning the wheel with the other as the vehicle swerves “violently”, court documents stated.

Parts of the wreckage found at the crash site. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

“Loud music is heard playing within the vehicle and all males are heard laughing as the vehicle swerves violently on the roadway,” Mr Douglas said.

Court documents allege the ute was travelling at 90km/h, with one of the victims caught on video saying, “we’re going to spin out, cuz”.

Mr Edwards was reportedly the only person wearing a seatbelt during the accident, and witnesses at the scene claimed they overheard him saying: “I f..ked up, I’m going to jail.”