Lachlan Stuckey: Court to hand down sentence for young Shoalhaven driver behind triple-fatal ACT trip crash
A young South Coast man will learn his fate in just days after killing three of his friends while negligently driving home from a 21st birthday in the ACT.
A young South Coast man will learn his fate in just days after killing three of his friends while negligently driving home from a 21st birthday in the ACT.
Lachlan Anthony Stuckey’s case was mentioned in Goulburn Local Court on Monday, where he previously pleaded guilty to three counts of negligent driving occasioning death, and one count of driving with a suspended licence.
The charges arose after the 22-year-old veered off the intersection of Bungendore and Collector roads in Tarago, resulting in the deaths of his girlfriend Charlie Quinn, 18, and friends Brooke Sorlie, 21, and Aaron French, 20.
It was previously heard the group was travelling from Canberra back to their Shoalhaven when the tragic crash occurred about 1.10pm on July 28, 2024.
Emergency services arrived at the scene to find Ms Sorlie, Ms Quinn and Mr French dead.
Stuckey managed to escape the wreckage before he was taken to Canberra Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Analysis of the airbag data indicated there was no application of the breaks during the collision and the vehicle was likely travelling between 106 and 115km/h.
Agreed facts state the group were celebrating a 21st birthday in Canberra the night before, partaking in karaoke and clubbing.
The documents state one member of the group heard Stuckey brag about the drugs he had taken while celebrating.
Stuckey is not accused of any drug related wrongdoing.
The young man was originally set for sentencing on September 15, but this was pushed back following submissions by his defence barrister Eugene Renard.
Magistrate Timothy Khoo allowed Stuckey’s bail to continue on the basis that being in custody could delay proper assessment of his condition, which may affect the final sentence.
Stuckey will be sentenced on Friday.
The deaths of the three young adults left Nowra in tears, with locals and the families of the victims previously sharing their heartbreak.
Ms Sorlie’s older sister, Layla, told The Daily Telegraph she was “a beautiful, kind, caring soul”.
“She was loved by many and will be dearly, dearly missed,” she said.
Ms Quinn’s shattered father Scott also described his daughter as “the light of our lives”.
“We are heartbroken and sending our love to all the families involved in this absolute tragedy,” he said.
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Originally published as Lachlan Stuckey: Court to hand down sentence for young Shoalhaven driver behind triple-fatal ACT trip crash
