2 days ago
Plaques dedicated to five teens killed in Buxton car crash stolen from memorial
Plaques dedicated to five teens who died in a horror car crash south of Sydney have been stolen from a memorial, in an act that has disgusted family members and their community.
Lily Van de Putte, Summer Williams, Gabriella McLennan, Antonio Desisto and Tyrese Bechard, all aged 14 to 16, died in September 2022 when the speeding car they were travelling in crashed into a tree at Buxton.
The driver, Tyrell Edwards, escaped the car wreck and is serving a 12-year prison sentence.
A memorial, including benches honouring each victim painted in their favourite colours, was set up along the shared pedestrian and cycle path between Picton and Tahmoor last year.
Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said it looked like each of the plaques fixed to benches had been forcibly removed.
"You can clearly see they had a crowbar or something that they have wedged behind to pop it off," he said.
"There are gouge marks in the back of the seats."
John Van de Putte's teenage daughter Lily died in the crash.
Mr Van de Putte said he was disgusted by the theft.
"There's not much monetary value in those plaques so I have no idea why anyone would have taken them."
The fatal crash was "one of the darkest days in the shire's history", according to Cr Gould.
Cr Gould said the theft may have occurred on the King's birthday public holiday, and appealed to the public for information.
He said security cameras near the memorial were scarce, so dash-cam vision could be crucial.
"If anyone has seen anything or they have dash-cam footage … that shows the plaques either there or not there, please get in contact with Crime Stoppers or Narellan Police so we can try and catch the absolute dirtbag responsible for this."
NSW Police said officers were making inquiries.
