Grieving parents have returned to the scene of a nightmare crash in Perth that claimed the lives of three young men and left two others fighting for theirs.
The 22-year-old driver survived the tragedy and hours later was charged with manslaughter and dangerous driving.
Among those killed was 22-year-old Jayden Rukuata-Wood, who was a passenger in the Holden Colorado that veered off Orrong Road, clipped a tree and crashed into the back of a Carlisle home about 5am on Saturday.
“My son was the biggest goofball, but he was also independent … his heart, he had the biggest heart,” mother Kama Rukuata said.
An off-duty nurse was the first to arrive at the scene, calling the accident extremely distressing.
“I ran over thinking well I can be a first responder, I’ll do what I can, but when I got there I realised there was nothing I could do,” Rachel Ilao said
Jaiden and two of his mates were critically injured and died at the scene.
Today Jayden’s devastated family gathered at the scene in honour of a young man who worked hard, loved cars and had just finished his panel beating apprenticeship
“He loved his family, his mates, devastation that we’re going through at the moment is quite hard, we’re still waiting for him to come back,” Ms Rukuata said
Two mothers of the young men who died told 9News they held no feelings of anger towards the driver, sending him only love and best wishes.
Ms Rukuata vowed to work with the man who was behind the wheel to help others.
“My son isn’t your burden, he’s my burden,” she said.
Appearing in court, the driver’s parents sobbed as details were read out.
A magistrate heard that until yesterday the 22-year-old’s future was bright. He was dux of his school with plans to study astrophysics.
Bail was denied despite being unopposed by police.
Police Commissioner Mike Bell said three families were reeling from “devastating … traumatic, life-changing news” news. “Another two families hoping their children pull through and of course, there’s a driver whose life is going to change forever.”
The six mates were believed to be heading home after a night out.
Police earlier alleged the driver failed a breath test and was likely speeding, and that some of the passengers may not have been wearing seatbelts.
The surviving passengers, a 19-year-old and a 23-year-old, were taken to the intensive care unit of Royal Perth Hospital.
Today officers urged road users to wake up and take notice, with three other lives lost on Western Australian roads over the weekend.
Two Indonesian nationals were killed in a crash on Indian Ocean Drive and an 83-year-old woman died when she had a medical episode and lost control of her car.
“I wonder how many people heard that and actually spoke to their child and I wonder if the people involved in yesterday’s crashes heard that and thought well it won’t happen to me,” Bell said.