A 14-year-old boy has been charged with two offences over the fatal crash on the Barton Highway. Photo: ACT Policing.
UPDATE 3:20 pm – A 14-year-old boy is expected to face ACT Children’s Court this afternoon charged over a fatal collision on the Barton Highway.
He’s been charged with culpable driving causing death and driving a stolen motor vehicle following the crash, in which a 19-year-old man was killed.
It’s alleged a gold Toyota Avalon sedan was stolen from a Chisholm resident at about 9:15 last night (Wednesday, 17 January).
Later that evening the vehicle was involved in a serious collision with a Toyota Hilux at the corner of the Barton Highway and Clarrie Hermes Drive.
The 19-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Avalon, was treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service paramedics.
He later died in hospital.
Two other 14-year-olds in the vehicle were also injured, and the occupants of the Hilux were treated at the scene.
One person needed to be extracted from the suspected stolen Avalon by emergency service crews. Photo: ACT Policing.
12 pm – A 19-year-old Canberran man has been killed in a two-vehicle collision on the Barton Highway overnight.
He’s the first person killed on the ACT’s roads in 2024.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of the Barton Highway, Kuringa Drive and Clarrie Hermes Drive in Belconnen at about 11:50 pm (Wednesday, 17 January).
ACT Road Policing officer in charge, Detective Acting Inspector Jonathon Turkich, said initial investigations confirmed a suspected stolen gold Toyota Avalon had run the red light when it struck a Toyota Hilux, which had been travelling north on the Barton Highway.
“The persons within the Toyota Avalon have all suffered injuries, with the 19-year-old unfortunately passing away, and there’s three 14-year-olds who have received treatment for various injuries and are in various conditions at Canberra Hospital,” he said.
“The occupants of the Hilux received some treatment [on scene] for their injuries, but they are otherwise unscathed.”
The 19-year-old was a passenger in the Avalon, with the suspected 14-year-old male driver now under police guard.
Charges are expected to be laid.
The suspected driver of the Avalon suffered serious injuries, while another passenger has significant injuries and is in a critical condition in hospital.
Det Act Insp Turkich said the year’s first fatality had occurred much earlier than officers had hoped.
“My heart goes out to the family and the Canberra community. This will have a ripple effect,” he said.
“It’s devastating. There are so many families who will be affected by this [as well as] first responders, witnesses, paramedics.”
Detective Acting Inspector Jonathon Turkich has pleaded with young Canberrans not to take risks on our roads. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The tragedy has reiterated calls for everyone, but particularly young people, to remember they’re not invincible.
“If I could get a message to any 14-year-old person or younger, it is please, please, look after yourselves. Please, please look after your friends, and please, please think about your family and all those around you,” Det Act Insp Turkich said.
He also cautioned against people judging the circumstances surrounding the crash and the children involved.
“Everyone has a history, everyone has a background,” Det Act Insp Turkich said.
“It’s devastating, it truly is … there are no winners in this whatsoever.”
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