Touched by toll

By Bridget Cook
TWO years on from the horror smash in Lynbrook that rocked the Casey community, families of the four teenagers killed have told the court of their heartache since the tragedy.
Victim impact statements from a number of affected family members were tendered in the Victorian County Court on Monday during the court case against Aaron Scott Lindsay, 28, who was charged over the death of the teenagers.
The court heard that Lindsay had an estimated blood alcohol reading between .06 and .10 and was speeding when he crashed into a Holden Commodore at the intersection of Hallam and Ormond Road just before 1.30am on June 28, 2009.
The Commodore driver Joel Brimble, 19, and his passengers Riyani Lowen, 16, and Anja Miler, 15, were killed, along with Lindsay’s passenger Errol Long, 18.
Lindsay, who was also seriously injured, pleaded guilty to four counts of dangerous driving causing death and four of dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Kayla Brimble, whose brother died in the collision, said no-one knew how fragile, weak and broken she really was.
Kayla said everything reminded her of her brother.
“When Joel died, I did too,” she said.
Errol’s mother Fiona Hein said all she felt was emptiness.
“Part of me has died with my beautiful baby boy,” she said.
Prosecutor Shivani Pillai told the court that Lindsay was driving his father’s V8 Holden Statesman at between 116km/h and 126km/h in an 80km/h zone at the time of the crash, not allowing enough time for the Commodore to complete a right-turn from Ormond Road onto Hallam Road.
Judge Jane Campton remanded Lindsay in custody to face the same court on July 18.
Tuesday was the two-year anniversary of the crash.
At the time of the collision, friends left tributes to the four teenagers killed at a memorial on the corner of Hallam Road and Ormond Road, Lynbook.
Letters to the girls, who were both students of Narre Warren South P-12 School stated: “Love you little girl, Always and Forever.”
“God Only takes the Best.”
“You are two of the nicest girls I have ever met.”
“I can’t stop crying.”
A letter to Joel Brimble read: “You were the most wonderful happy person I ever met in my life – you bring me joy and I will never forget you.”
“One of the funniest, cute, caring boys I ever knew. Always knew how to make us laugh. Thankyou for all the memories, you will always be remembered.”