'I f-ed up', boy said after Barton Highway crash that killed two

CONTENT WARNING: This article may distress some readers.

Shortly after a 14-year-old boy caused a horrific double-fatal crash on the Barton Highway, he was heard telling others he had “f-ed up” and “I’ve just killed my mate”.

The now-15-year-old faced the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday (5 March) where he pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing death.

The statement of facts outlining his crimes was then handed to the court and has now been obtained by Region.

The boy stole a Toyota Avalon from a Chisholm home on the evening of 17 January 2024.

When the car’s owner looked at a neighbour’s security camera footage, she said she saw “two kids” had unlocked the car, reversed down the driveway and crashed into a nearby letterbox.

Just a few hours later that same night, a woman was driving her Toyota Hilux through an intersection on the Barton Highway in Spence when the boy drove the stolen Toyota Avalon through a red light and crashed into her ute.

The boy, who had been driving at 71 km/h in an 80 km/h zone when he entered the intersection, had three passengers in the car.

Joshua Stewart, 19, was sitting in the front passenger seat, while two 14-year-old boys were in the back.

The driver of the Hilux later told police that the Avalon “was coming so fast that I just couldn’t, I couldn’t pull up enough to not hit him”.

As she sat in her ute after the crash, the boy approached her car, banged on the window and said, “Arrest me now”.

He and another 14-year-old had managed to get out of the wreckage and pulled the third 14-year-old out with them, but Mr Stewart was trapped in the car.

Bystanders arrived to hear the boy say, “It’s my fault” and “I’ve just killed my mate”.

“Mate, it’s all my fault. It was my idea to steal the car,” he told the 14-year-old who escaped the wreckage with him.

Police and paramedics arrived within minutes. The boy then approached a police officer with his hands in front of his body and said, “Arrest me. I f-ed up. I was driving”.

Mr Stewart was unconscious when emergency services arrived and it took 30 minutes to free him from the car. He died soon afterwards when he arrived at hospital.

The 14-year-old pulled from the car was taken to hospital in a critical condition with a traumatic brain injury. He died from his injuries months later in August 2024.

The boy was charged soon after the crash and was originally granted bail, although it was later revoked and he was remanded in custody.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard the boy, who remains in custody, will be sentenced at a future date.

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.