Lily Blundstone: Ben Yole stables worker in court charged with Rowella crash
A young employee of Yole Harness Racing Stables who was involved in a serious accident that killed four horses and left three passengers injured has fronted court charged with five offences.
Tasmania
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A young employee of Yole Harness Racing Stables who was involved in a serious accident that killed four horses and left three passengers injured has fronted court charged with five offences.
Rowella woman Lily Kathleen Blundstone, 21, appeared in Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
She is charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm by negligent driving, and one each of driving without due care and attention, driver failing to ensure a passenger is wearing a seat belt, and towing a trailer without brakes.
Ms Blundstone, supported in court by a large contingent of friends and family, did not enter a plea.
The court was told her defence lawyer had only recently received disclosure from Tasmania Police prosecutors and needed time to work through the files.
Ms Blundstone’s charges were adjourned to January 19, 2024.
Tasmania Police previously said the single-vehicle accident occurred on the Batman Highway at Rowella at approximately 1.45am on January 30. It’s understood the group was returning from a harness race meet at Glenorchy’s Elwick Racecourse.
The white Ford Ranger ute with five occupants, towing a horse float, left the road and collided with a tree stump, police said.
All four horses died in the collision or its aftermath, while all five occupants of the vehicle, who were aged between 14–20, were transported via ambulance to the Launceston General Hospital.
An 18-year-old passenger was subsequently flown to Melbourne and a 17-year-old passenger to Hobart due to the seriousness of their injuries.
All four passengers of the utility, reinsman Cody Crossland, 19, reinswoman Bronte Miller, 18, horse handling trainee Maree Wakefield, 16, and Ms Miller’s brother Blake, 14, were identified in an online fundraiser established in the wake of the accident.
Mr Yole’s stables issued a statement via social media in the wake of the accident, praising the professionalism of LGH staff and thanking wellwishers for their messages of support.
“We would love to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out, called, text, offered support, cooked for us and just generally checked in,” the stables wrote.
“We are overwhelmed at the amount of messages we have received, both via here as well as personally. The support is just astounding.
“Our Yole stable is a family and we have stuck together like glue these last few days. We will continue to do that.”
In addition to her role at Mr Yole’s stables, Ms Blundstone is also a member of the Lilydale Pony Club and regularly competes in tournaments and competitions.
Originally published as Lily Blundstone: Ben Yole stables worker in court charged with Rowella crash
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