“Absolute Hell”: A driver imprisoned for a crash that killed five teenagers

• Driver is imprisoned for 2 years and 6 months
• A family of five teens killed in a horror accident near Timaru in August filled the courtroom for the decision of driver Tyreese Fleming on Wednesday.
• Then 19-year-old Fleming admitted five charges of dangerous driving that caused death in April.
• Due to the impact of the crash, the overloaded car was split in half and all passengers died instantly.
• Fleming was drinking alcohol before the crash and had a restricted license just three days ago.
• 15-year-old Andrew Goodger was traveling in the trunk of a car at the time of the crash

Last year, a man was imprisoned near Timaru, who crashed a car and killed five teenagers.

The public gallery had no spare seats in court, completely surpassing the 20-year-old Tyreese Fleming’s ruling.

A family of 15 people, including five dead parents, two siblings, and three grandparents, addressed the court.

Andrew Goodgar’s father, Richard Goodgar, talked about the enormous emotional sacrifice that his son’s death suffered.

“The night my son never went home was a complete hell. Andrew’s girlfriend called and said he had died in a car accident and woke up around 11:50 pm. rice field.

“I’ve lived in absolute hell since Andrew was killed,” he said.

read more:
* Broken Heart and Broken Life: How a Party Night for Six Teenagers Turns into a Tragedy
* Police intimidation blaming driver’s family for Timaru accident
* Community support humbles teenage families killed in Timaru’s accident

Overcoming Emotions – When his daughter Giorja finished reading his statement, he had to be helped by the court.

Giorja Goodgar, who spoke in court over her brother’s death, said the crash made her “the most favorite person in the world.”

“Every day has been struggling. He was my only brother, you broke the bond. Everything reminds me of my brother. My brother was all of me. It was my heart. I left a piece of.

“It’s painful to know that this is due to your stupid, stupid mistakes … I cherish every second I had with my brother. All I have is memories.

She told Fleming that his actions that night caused so much pain.

“I had to identify my brother that night. I couldn’t talk or eat for a few days.”

According to Andrea Goodgar, the boy was born with a hole in his heart and underwent four surgeries to repair it. She said he was a real fighter and a fun and loving boy who loved surfing and skateboarding.

She told Fleming that her strong Christian faith would one day help her find forgiveness, but she didn’t know when it would be.

“Tyreese, who killed five boys. I believe you should be responsible for your actions.”

Stephen Drummond, the father of Javarney Drummond, said Fleming’s actions changed his life.

“Most of my family is missing because of the stupidity of a drunk driver. I’m going to live life imprisonment without children. The drunk driver provides drinks to children. Don’t let me ride, “he said.

“My beloved mom” is the last word I remember hearing when Carissa Hill left her son, 15-year-old Nico Hill, to go to a skatepark on the day of the crash.

“It’s just a memory now. I fell asleep thinking he was at home.”

Hill was awakened by a friend at 3 am and informed her that she had crashed and her son would not return home.

“At that moment, my world was upset. My heart broke into a million. At the age of 35, my firstborn died and I had to plan his funeral. “

“The pain I feel is different from any other pain … it inhales all your life, loses your weight, can’t move, can’t breathe … waves rush to you It’s like. The day Nico died, my life was over. “

Tyreese Stuart Fleming, now 20 years old, was 19 at the time of the collision, driving with a three-day restricted license and drinking when the car he was driving hit a utility pole at the intersection of Meadows and Seadown. Road at a speed of 110-115kmh just before 7:30 pm on August 7, 2021.

The shock halved the car, passengers of Javany Drammond (15), Nico Hill (15), Andrew Goodgar (15), Jack Wallace (16), Joseph McCarthy (16). All died instantly.

Faced with five manslaughter charges initially, Fleming was found guilty of five dangerous driving charges in Timaru’s High Court on April 5, resulting in death with up to 10 years in prison.

Fleming, who has been on bail since his first indictment in December 2021, appeared before Judge Osborne in the High Court of Timaloo for a decision on Wednesday.

Judge Osborne addressed the court, admitting that the decision was an important moment for all involved.

“I ask everyone to respect. This will be a difficult process. I ask everyone to respect and follow the etiquette necessary for this to happen.”

Prosecutor Andrew McRae told the court that the sentence was based on five to six years’ imprisonment, which would not allow house arrest to be considered.

McRae said a very poor combination of decisions led to tragedy, and statements about the victims’ effects revealed the effects.

He is a very inexperienced driver, and various factors are responsible for the defendant’s actions, including holding a restricted license, driving with passengers, and breaking it by consuming alcohol. He said he contributed to.

Attorney Thomas Nation demanded a starting point for four years’ imprisonment with a discount on early guilty fleas, regrets, and the fact that Fleming had no prior conviction. He demanded that the final sentence be two years in prison, which is equivalent to 12 months of house arrest with 400 hours of social service.

“His remorse was clear from the beginning. It was very obvious in the three Restorative Justice meetings, and one of these meetings gave birth to the idea of ​​his participation in a road safety campaign.”

Judge Osborne said in a brief post-postponement court speech that the sentence he imposed would be one of the imprisonment. He said he would be sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

“I acknowledge the heightened tragedy of the five youths and their enthusiasm for life.”

Judge Osborne said Fleming had no prior convictions, but had no completely clean history in some cases dealt with by verbal warnings and police diversion.

Fleming, who tends to behave impulsively and is reported to be emotionally immature, has stopped using all alcohol since the crash.

“You retain the benefits of a very compassionate and supportive family.”

Judge Osborne said restorative justice reports generally have a very positive nature.

Judge Osborne said Fleming had multiple deaths, drove a dangerously loaded vehicle, drank heavy alcohol before driving, violated two conditions of a restricted license, and drove overspeed. He said he considered what he did as the most relevant exacerbation factor.

“The huge loss in your driving must be recognized. Looking at other similar cases, the worsening features put it towards the high end.”

“In that situation, I adopted the starting point for five and a half years in prison.

Judge Osborne gives Fleming a two-year and six-month imprisonment with a 25% discount on early guilty fleas, a 15% discount on young people, a 10% discount on regrets, and a 5% discount on good personality. rice field. He is not eligible for house arrest.

Fleming has also been disqualified from driving for five years.

Fleming was drinking alcohol before the crash. The crown said he bought two boxes of long white alcohol vodka drinks at around 6:20 pm on the day of the crash and took them to the Caroline Bay Skatepark on the Nissan Bluebird. Passengers – Andrew Goodgar and Nico Hill.

About 15 minutes later, Javany Drammond, Jack Wallace, and Joseph McCarthy joined.

They spent about 20 minutes consuming the alcohol Fleming purchased. During this time, Fleming posted his snapchat, “vortexing” at least two long whites (skulls swirling bottles).

After 7 pm, everyone except Andrew Goodgar got into the car. Fleming got out of the car and opened his boots, so Goodgar was able to enter.

Fleming then drove to Meadows Road, just north of Timaru.

“While traveling in boots, Goodger talked to a friend on the phone. In the background, I heard someone telling the driver to speed up.”

At the intersection of the Seadown and Meadows roads, Fleming couldn’t give way, couldn’t slow down, ran 110-115kmh, couldn’t make a corner, and lost control of the vehicle. ..

“The weight imbalance between the overload of the vehicle and the presence of passengers in the trunk of the vehicle affected Mr. Fleming’s ability to control the vehicle,” the court said on April 5.

“The vehicle traveled a distance of about 60 meters before colliding with a large concrete pole.”

The vehicle was impacted and split in two, with two passengers thrown out of the vehicle. The rear, with three passengers, remained at the point of shock. With Fleming still in the driver’s seat, the front half of the car went down another 26 meters from Sea Download.

“All passengers were killed instantly.”

Fleming was taken to the hospital and a blood sample taken from him after 9 pm returned a result of 50 + 2 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

In a statement following the ruling, Aoraki Regional Commander Dave Gaskin said the ruling acknowledged responsibility for Fleming’s crash.

“We can’t change that tragic night’s events, nor can we get rid of the incredible sadness that remains in the family of five tragicly dead young people.

“On this occasion, many improper decisions caused an unthinkable series of events and caused a crash.”