The Cardross road crash was a hit and run crash at Cardross, Victoria, Australia at 9.50pm on 18 February 2006, where a Ford EA Falcon station wagon, struck a group of thirteen teenage pedestrians, killing five immediately and injuring eight more. The teenagers were walking along Myall Street, Cardross to a party in nearby Red Cliffs after being dropped by a taxi at an incorrect address. Cassandra Manners, 16, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cory Dowling, 16, Abby Hirst, 17 and her 16-year-old brother Shane Hirst all died at the scene. Josephine Calvi, 16, died the following day at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. On 20 February 2006, Thomas Graham Towle, an unemployed 35-year-old father of six from Red Cliffs, appeared in the Mildura Magistrates Court facing 17 charges, including six of culpable driving, five of negligently causing serious injury and one of failing to stop after a collision. On 31 March 2008 Towle was found guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria and sentenced to 10 years jail with a minimum of seven years, of which he had already served two years. He completed his sentence on 16 May 2016.
Aftermath
Peter Gallagher, a family member of victim Cory Dowling, read a statement on behalf of the victims families to a crowd of over 600 mourners gathered on the lawns at the Mildura Base Hospital on the night of the crash, The Government of Victoria announced it would provide A$40,000 for counselling of victims and relatives. Then Prime Minister, John Howard issued a statement, Michael Jeffery, the Governor-General of Australia, also sent a message of condolence to the Mildura community, which he had visited during 2005. Two minutes silence was observed at the Lock Rock Music Festival held in Mildura a week after the crash, on 25 February 2006. The festival was hosted by radio announcer and former Red Cliffs resident, Myf Warhurst. Towle's family, including his children, reported receiving threats from members of the community, forcing police to make an announcement appealing for calm. Acting Inspector Michael Talbot of the Major Collision Investigation Unit was quoted as saying, The father of the accused, Graham Towle, offered his condolences, saying On 18 February 2007, a memorial service was held at Mildura's Henderson Park to mark the first anniversary of the crash. A permanent roadside memorial was erected at the scene of the crash in early 2007.
Committal hearing
A committal hearing began in Mildura before Magistrate Donna Bakos on 19 March 2007. A total of 42 witnesses including 28 children were called during the two-week hearing. Towle was not required to attend the committal hearing due to concerns for his safety and appeared briefly via video linkat the beginning of committal proceedings. It was alleged Towle drank bourbon whiskey mixed with Coca-Cola earlier in the day and allowed his four-year-old child to sit on his lap while driving at speeds of up to shortly before the crash occurred. Witness Matthew Orsini denied the group had been walking on the road. Towle told police he was travelling at approximately, and that the corner "just jumped out at him". Towle described the scene to police as "absolute horror". Towle fled the scene, leaving his four-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter behind. He telephoned police to notify them of his whereabouts five hours after the crash. Andrew Arden, a teenager present at the crash scene, denied threatening to kill Towle immediately after the crash, however admitted during committal hearing proceedings he yelled at Towle, saying "You f****n' bastard, what have you done?" and then threw a beer bottle at him. Towle was reported to be hysterical and suicidal in the hours following the crash. On advice from his lawyer, Towle also refused to provide a blood sample to police. Towle later told police: Defence lawyer for Towle, Brendan Murphy, QC said the legal rights of his client had been damaged, saying, The vehicle allegedly involved in the crash was sent to Japan for scrap metal without the consent of the defendants' defence team. ABC TV's Media Watch highlighted a article in The Age newspaper where previous court attendances of the defendant were listed, an action Media Watch suggests could influence a jury. On 27 March 2007, Magistrate Donna Bakos ordered Towle to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and to appear for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on 5 June 2007. Towle was formally refused bail, with Magistrate Bakos saying he was an unacceptable risk of fleeing.
Trial
The trial of Thomas Graham Towle began on 4 February 2008 before the Victorian Supreme Court and was expected to run for four to five weeks. On 31 March 2008 he was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years with a minimum of seven years, of which Towle had already served two years. Later Towle appealed the sentence but the original judgement was upheld. Towle was freed on parole in June 2013. In September 2015, Towle was returned to jail after the Adult Parole Board cancelled his parole amid fears of an “escalation of risk to the community”. It did not reveal how he had breached the conditions of his parole. He completed his sentence on 16 May 2016.
