A teen who consumed cocaine and raced through suburban streets before causing a crash which killed his mate has been jailed.

Aspiring AFL player Nick Campo, 18, died while celebrating his birthday on July 13, 2024, when the Toyota Hilux he was travelling in rolled and collided with another car in the Perth suburb of North Lake.

Mr Campo and four friends, including the P-plate driver, were rushing to a Leederville nightclub before what they believed was its midnight lockout time. 

His family wept in court on Wednesday as the driver, who can’t be named as he was 17 at the time, was sentenced to three years and two months behind bars.

The teen, who has been in custody since November, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and five related dangerous driving charges earlier this year. 

He will be eligible for parole after 19 months and could be freed as early as mid 2026.

The District Court heard the now 18-year-old driver and his passengers had consumed cocaine and was captured by red light cameras exceeding almost double the speed limit in a 70km/h zone before the crash. 

The Hilux was extensively modified, including a 180 degree swivel on the front passenger seat so it faced the rear because the driver ‘thought it looked cool.’

Nick Campo, 18, was killed in July 2024 when the car he was in rolled and collided with another

Nick Campo, 18, was killed in July 2024 when the car he was in rolled and collided with another

The driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter and five related dangerous driving charges

The driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter and five related dangerous driving charges

Three passengers were not wearing seatbelts, two of which were inaccessible. 

Investigators also found the ute’s front suspension stabilising bar was missing. The bars provide stability in turns. 

The court also heard the passengers had encouraged the driver to break road rules and told him to ‘gun it’ as they feared they would not arrive to the nightclub in time.

Mr Campo’s shattered family have spent the last nine months raising awareness about road safety in the wake of the tragedy.

They expressed their disappointment in the driver’s sentence on Wednesday.

‘We don’t feel that it was enough and I really don’t think it sets a very good example for young people,’ his mum Bianca told reporters as she fought back tears.

‘No sentence obviously will bring our Nick back. It’s something that we have to live with every day for the rest of our lives.

‘We’ve been quite broken by that. Nick was a really good kid and he was very much loved by all of us.’

Nick Campo's mum Bianca fought back tears outside court on Wednesday after the sentence has handed down

Nick Campo’s mum Bianca fought back tears outside court on Wednesday after the sentence has handed down

Ms Campo had this harrowing plea for parents of teens.

‘Please, make sure you’re know they need to do the right thing when they get into cars,’ she said.

‘Because this is a pain that’s unbearable.

‘It’s something no one can understand until they actually live it and I really feel for people who have to go through this’

Children’s Court president Hylton Quail noted the driver’s ‘genuine’ remorse during his sentencing remarks.

‘This is a very tragic case,’ he told the court.

‘The consequences will live with the victims and their families forever.’

‘What followed was all but inevitable.’

Nick was celebrating his 18th birthday with mates on the night he was killed

Nick was celebrating his 18th birthday with mates on the night he was killed 

The driver’s lawyer said there were no winners. 

He added that his client still suffers vivid flashbacks about the fateful night.

‘My client is incredibly remorseful for what he’s done,’ Michael Tudori said.

‘Although he’s criminally liable for what he’s done but there were other factors going on inside that car … everybody’s morally responsible for what happened (in the lead up) to the crash.’

‘Getting in a car, especially with people who have been at parties, is dangerous.’ 

Mr Campo was one of the 188 people killed on Western Australian roads in 2024.

It was the state’s highest road toll since 2016, when 195 people were killed. 

Nick Campo (above) was one of 188 people killed on WA roads last year

Nick Campo (above) was one of 188 people killed on WA roads last year

Mr Campo was a rising star on the state’s AFL scene before his life was tragically cut short. 

‘Nick was a bright young man with true talent and a love for football,’ his club South Fremantle said at the time.

‘He came through our talent pathway and played colts at South Fremantle for the past two years.

‘His loss has been felt heavily across the football, cricket, and wider WA communities.’

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