A young man with dreams of becoming a youth worker will be forever burdened by the knowledge he killed his friend after he drove high on meth while speeding and crashed his car, tearing it into pieces.
Tyson Gavin Forrester was 24 years old and on a learners' permit when he picked up his friend, 19-year-old Raygen McDonald, and was seen doing burnouts at Shepparton in Victoria's north in the early hours of April 3, 2022.
Ms McDonald was in the front passenger seat of his unregistered Ford Falcon and not wearing a seatbelt when he drove down a dark road doing at least 166km/h in an 100km/h zone.
The car hit a slight depression and its undercarriage struck the road's surface about 26 metres further along.
Forrester lost control and the Falcon slammed into trees and tore into three pieces on impact.
He managed to free himself from the wreckage and, with blood all over his face, got picked up by a taxi driver passing by.
They were on their way back to Shepparton when Forrester said: "I've got to get the girl out".
The taxi driver turned back and Forrester waited in her car while she called triple zero.
Police found Ms McDonald in a paddock metres from the collision. She died at the scene.
"You were incapable of having proper control of your car and so it is that you are responsible for Ms McDonald's death," Judge Simon Moglia said in the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday.
"It is a connection and a burden that you will bear for the rest of your life.
"More so, the McDonald family have suffered a terrible loss."
Forrester, now 26, grew up surrounded by violence, and with a father and mother who grappled with alcohol and drug issues.
Child protection was constantly involved with his family and he and his brothers - three of whom are now in prison - were abused.
Forrester was introduced to cannabis at age 12 and became dependent on meth at age 16, the court was told.
He felt shame and remorse following Ms McDonald's death and accepted no sentence could compare to her loss.
“You stood and faced Raygen's family and offered them a detailed apology," Judge Moglia said.
“You have acted honourably, you have spoken from your heart, and you have shown respect and true remorse for what you have done."
Ms McDonald's family described her as a passionate, strong and intelligent girl.
Her father felt helpless after her death and her mother was reminded of the 19 year old's aspirations everywhere she looked.
Still, she wanted Forrester to learn and grow from her daughter's death and educate others about the impact of dangerous driving.
Judge Moglia sentenced Forrester to eight years in prison for culpable driving causing death.
He will be eligible for parole after four years and 10 months.
