The driver who was involved in the triple-fatal car accident which left a Home and Away actress fighting for her life in hospital was a known drug user and had been jailed for driving offences.
Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, who died in the horrific Boxing Day crash along with Lars Falkholt, 69, and his wife Vivian, 60, had been jailed for driving while disqualified and was driving on P-plates, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The smash on Princes Highway near Sussex Inlet in New South Wales left promising actress Jessica Falkholt, 28, and her sister Annabelle, 21, in hospital fighting for their lives.
Craig Anthony Whitall was a known drug user and had been jailed for driving offences
Former Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt is fighting for her life in hospital after the crash which killed both her parents
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Mr Whitall was driving home from a methadone clinic when the tragic incident occurred
Mr Whitall’s son took to Facebook to pay an emotional tribute to his father
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Mr Whitall was driving home from a methadone clinic when the tragic incident occurred.
Witness told police they saw Mr Whitall’s white Toyota Prado cross the centre line twice before it crashed into the Falkholt’s Mazda in a head-on collision.
Mr Whitall had been charged with more than 60 offences by police before his death.
Sources told the Daily Telegraph Mr Whitall was ‘well known’ to police in Ulladulla and had a criminal history of more than 60 offences.
Jessica Falkholt had appeared in Home and Away and was beginning a promising film career before the crash
The coronial investigation into the crash will focus on whether Mr Whitall was under the influence of drugs during the crash.
His son Shane took to Facebook to pay an emotional tribute to his father.
‘I love you with all my heart dad and will forever miss you,’ Shane wrote.
‘You were my hero I don’t give a f**k what anyone says you showed me a lot in my life more than you’ll ever know.
‘It’s such a tragedy to lose you I love you Dad RIP,’ the post read.
Mr Whitall was driving home to Ulladulla from a Nowra methadone clinic on Boxing Day.
Methadone is prescribed to heroin addicts as they attempt to wean themselves off the drug.
It isn’t illegal for a driver to have methadone in their system but they can be charged if it is proven any substance impaired their ability to control a vehicle safely.
A witness to the crash pulled Jessica (pictured) and her sister Annabelle from the horror smash
Mr Whitall’s family also released a statement saying that their ‘hearts were broken’ after his death.
‘Not only for our loss but also for the loss the Falkholt family are feeling.’
Craig Anthony Whitall went by aliases including Craig Andrew Whitall and Jamie Robert Wilson.
He was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified in 2011.