By Luke Voogt
A Clifton Springs man will face serious driving charges over a crash that killed 16-year-old Barwon Heads girl Sarah Crimmins last November.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives this week charged the charged 20-year-old Liam Davis with culpable driving following the fatal crash at Gellibrand on 11 November
The man was driving a four-wheel-drive on Frys Road just after 2.30pm when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
The vehicle then rolled, killing rear-seat passenger Sarah. Her 18-year-old sister, Louise, sustained minor injuries as the front-seat passenger during the crash.
Louise attempted to revive her younger sister until paramedics arrived, according to the pair’s father, Graham Crimmins.
Mr Davis, who was Louise’s boyfriend at the time, also sustained minor injuries in the crash.
He allegedly had backyard repairs done to the car and chose to have the brake disabled rather than repaired before the crash, Newscorp reported yesterday.
Victoria Police mechanical investigators found the failed brake probably contributed to the fatal crash, Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.
A magistrate granted him bail this week due to his age, clean criminal record and the fact he had a stable job and address.
He will reappear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on 20 July.
Sarah was an aspiring musician who had begun playing at venues on the Bellarine Peninsula just 18 months after she began playing guitar.
Friends and family posted tributes to the young singer on social media following the crash last year.
Her music teacher, Stephen McEwan, spoke of his pride at seeing Sarah fight through “anxiety and crippling fear of performance” to get on stage.
“I had so many plans for you. I am so sad that people will not hear the voice I kept telling you they should,” he said.
“We, your fellow students and your music teachers will always remember you.”
