Teen becomes the second person to die after fatal crash on Barton Highway

A teenage passenger in a car that crashed earlier this year has died, becoming the second person involved in the incident to pass away.

On 17 January 2024, 19-year-old Joshua Stewart died after he was in the car crash on the Barton Highway. All other occupants of the car were 14-year-old boys, including the alleged driver.

Police arrived and allegedly found the driver and one of the other boys standing outside the car. A third boy had life-threatening head and chest injuries and was taken to Canberra Hospital for urgent treatment and surgery.

In March, the ACT Children’s Court heard this third boy had regained consciousness from a coma but was “non-responsive in hospital”.

Police have now confirmed he has died.

“A 14-year-old boy who was a passenger in a Toyota Avalon that was involved in a two-vehicle collision in January 2024 recently died as a result of his injuries,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said on Thursday (22 August).

“An additional charge of culpable driving causing death will be laid against the 15-year-old boy who was allegedly driving the Toyota at the time of the collision.”

The alleged driver, who legally can’t be named due to his age, had already been handed a charge of culpable driving causing death over Mr Stewart’s death.

His case will return to court in September.

Six people, including Mr Stewart, have died after crashes on Canberra’s roads this year.

Tennis Canberra coach Alicia Celaya Jauregui was killed while riding her bike on Lady Denman Drive in March.

A flipped Toyota Camry was found in the middle of Adelaide Avenue in Yarralumla on 17 April, and a 15-year-old boy with critical injuries was found nearby. He was transported to hospital where he later died. Police confirmed he wasn’t the driver.

A 46-year-old male motorbike rider died after a single-vehicle crash on Brindabella Road on 21 April, and another was killed in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Sulwood and Athllon drives on 23 May.

Also, a 47-year-old died after a motorcycle and a light truck crashed near the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Beaurepaire Crescent in Holt on 18 June.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:

Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.