General News
10 December, 2024
Moments before fatal Stawell burnout crash recounted to court
An 18-year-old spectator died at the LOO5ENATS event in 2023.
The moments leading up to the death of an 18-year-old spectator at a burnout event in Stawell have been recounted at a hearing in Ballarat on Monday.
Bryce Dridan, 29, was behind the wheel of a modified ute at the LOO5ENATS event in November 2023 when the car's brake line allegedly snapped, ploughing into attendee Trent DeZoete.
Police alleged Dridan was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash and drove in a dangerous manner, for which he has pleaded not guilty.
Dridan appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court this week for a set of hearings to determine whether or not the case has enough evidence to go to trial.
At Monday's hearing, the court heard from two attendees of the LOO5ENATS event - a man who travelled to the event from Ballarat with Dridan, and a spectator who watched the fatal crash.
The first witness told the court he had checked the car's fluids prior to Dridan competing in the event, and found a small oil leak, which he fixed.
The man said he witnessed a LOO5ENATS scrutineer assess Dridan's modified ute as suitable to perform burnouts at the event.
He had concerns about the traffic management of the event, with cars leaving the event's burnout pad crossing over with a pedestrian walkway nearby.
The second witness, an attendee who saw the crash, shared concerns about pedestrian safety at the event.
He told police he saw Dridan's car leave the burnout pad at an estimated 45 to 50km/h.
However, when asked by Dridan's lawyer whether he could have been mistaken about the speed, the man said it was possible.
The third witness was an organiser of LOO5ENATS, and a committee member of the Stawell Motorsports Club, who run the event.
The woman was questioned by Dridan's lawyer about the level of oversight the Australian Auto Sport Alliance had over the event, and safety protocols in place should an issue arise.
The organiser said event entrants had to hold an AASA licence to compete; however, since the system moved online it was difficult to verify a competitor's licence to their identity.
She also said there was no traffic management plan drawn up for the event.
Following the crash, the woman told the court she had contacted AASA regarding the death, but the sports alliance had "not made any contact".
The court also heard from police detective Sergeant Janelle Hardiman, who gave evidence about the crash investigation.
The hearings will continue on Tuesday.
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