Buxton crash: Five teens killed were not wearing seatbelts: Tyrell Edwards

The driver in a horror crash that killed five teenagers survived because he was the only one wearing a seatbelt, court documents reveal.

Tyrell Edwards, 18, who was charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death was the only person wearing a seatbelt when the Nissan Navara ute slammed into a tree on East Parade in the small town of Buxton last Tuesday night. 

The P-plate driver had been travelling at ‘high speed” when he crashed into ‘two large trees’ in the town 100km southwest of Sydney splitting the vehicle in two, police have alleged. 

Picton High School students Lily van de Putte, 15, Antonio Desisto, 15, Summer Williams, 14, Tyrese Bechard, 16, and Gabby McLennan, 14, were all killed in their school uniforms.

‘Four passengers were ejected from the rear of the vehicle and were located a short distance away, trapped by confinement,’ police court documents state. 

The development in the tragic case comes as grief-stricken parents of the alleged victims begin the harrowing process of laying their loved ones to rest.

The heartbroken families of the five alleged victims commence plans to farewell their loved ones for the last time (pictured, family members visit the crash site)

John Van De Putte, the heartbroken father of his Lily, said he wanted to send of his ‘baby girl’ as soon as possible. 

‘We just want to get it over with… it will be a celebration of her life, but we just want it done,’ he told the Daily Telegraph. 

The sad admission comes just days after Mr Van De Putte demanded dramatic changes to P-plate laws which would see ban drivers from having passengers. 

The Buxton father has also asked that motorists be at least 20-years-old before they are allowed to get behind the wheel. 

Maria Ma, the aunt of Tyrese Bechard, said her mother had raised the teenager since he was a baby after she lost her own daughter to a drug overdose.

The tragic crash has now exacerbated her emotional and financial struggles. 

‘She’s strapped for cash, she’s doing it really tough,’ Ms Ma said, adding the teenagers had been heading to McDonald’s when they crashed.

Lily Van De Putte, 15, was one of five teens killed after the car they were in smashed into a tree on Tuesday night. Her father John has said he wants her funeral over as soon as possible

Summer William (left) and Tyrese Bechard (right) were two of five passengers who died in the horror crash as police allege four of the passengers ‘were ejected from the rear of the vehicle’

It is understood the group had been driving around together for several hours.

Edwards remains in custody after being refused bail when he appeared via video link at Picton Local Court on Thursday. 

He was transferred in handcuffs in a prison van to Silverwater’s Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre.

He allegedly used his phone to film Snapchat video of himself aggressively turning the wheel and swerving at 90km/hour before the crash, police allege.

Antonio Desisto was among the five teenagers who tragically died in the crash

Exaven Desisto, the father of victim Antonio, broke down in tears outside court on Thursday

Driver Tyrell Edwards, 18, was the sole survivor of the crash and has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death

Police will also allege that Edwards was heard by a witness after the horror smash saying: ‘I f***ed up, I’m going to jail’.

During his bail application on Thursday, the court heard that Edwards had prior speeding offences which led to his licence being suspended on two separate occasions.

Exaven Desisto, the father of 16-year-old Antonio, sobbed inside the courtroom when Edwards’ case was mentioned.

Outside, the shattered father hugged police officers, and described his son as his ‘best friend’ to Daily Mail Australia and other media. 

‘He literally never left my side. I didn’t have many friends, I have a couple of best mates but my son was my best friend,’ he said, clearly overwhelmed with emotion.

‘We did everything together, I brought him up, he was just the most happy and humble kid. He used to pray before every meal he put in his mouth.’

‘I have to visit my son in a f**king morgue,’ he said.

Five teenagers were killed in the horror crash around 100km southwest of Sydney on Tuesday night

Outside court the shattered father hugged police officers, as he described his son as his ‘best friend’

Mr Desisto said those involved needed to be held accountable for their actions.

According to court documents, police will allege footage of the teens from inside the car shows the moments before the crash. 

Footage from around an hour before the crash allegedly shows Edwards holding his phone while aggressively turning the steering wheel. 

Loud music can also apparently be heard, court documents said, with the passengers laughing as the vehicle swerved at 90km/h. 

One male allegedly said: ‘We’re going to spin out cuz.’

Witnesses alleged the car travelled at ‘high speeds’ and was on the wrong side of the road before coming back to the right side before the crash. 

Back in Buxton, heartbroken friends, family and school mates continue to mourn the loss of the five teenagers in the horror smash

A large crowd of supporters attended Tyrell Edwards’ first court appearance in Picton, in Sydney’s south-west, on Thursday

Edwards was allegedly unable to free himself from the wreck, while another victim was trapped in a passenger seat.

In an interview with officers, Edwards allegedly told police his steering wheel began ‘shaking’ and that he lost control of the vehicle. 

He said he couldn’t control the vehicle and tried to brake but it didn’t significantly slow. Police allege roadway evidence from the scene does not support his account. 

The driver also allegedly claimed he only knew about four passengers and didn’t know when the fifth one entered the car.  

Edwards appeared expressionless in court via video link, and sat with his hands clasped together while wearing a black hoodie.

The court heard he obtained his provisional licence in February last year but has had his licence suspended twice since for speeding offences, the court heard.

Friends of the five students killed on Tuesday visited the site of the crash Wednesday morning

Magistrate Mark Douglass said the decision to deny bail was ‘not made easily’ but he had taken into account Edwards’ driving history.

‘Given the egregious breach of trust, given the blatant breach of road rules that police allege occurred, this court has no confidence that this particular person would comply, given the history I’ve explained, with any bail conditions the court set at this particular point in time,’ Mr Douglass said.

Edwards, who works as a labourer, has a history of anxiety and was left ‘traumatised’ by the incident, the court heard.