Baldivis driver, allegedly under the influence of drug cocktail, charged in WA accident that killed girl, 21
Driver charged with highway accident that killed 21-year-old girl was reportedly under the influence of a cocktail of four different drugs
- Evie Butterworth has been charged with manslaughter
- Abbey Sherriff died after Mrs Butterworth bumped into her, police say
- Butterworth reportedly had a cocktail of drugs in her system
A woman was reportedly under the influence of multiple illegal drugs when police said she caused a fatal car accident on a highway ramp.
Evie Butterworth has been charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs following a crash on a motorway south of Perth that killed 21-year-old Abbey Sherriff at around 11.35pm on Wednesday 11 January.
Police allege 29-year-old Butterworth was behind the wheel of a Nissan Maxima when it cut Ms. Sherriff’s Nissan X-Trail on a slip road off the Kwinana Freeway in the southern suburb of Baldivis.
21-year-old Abbey Sherriff (pictured) died after her car was wedged into a highway ramp, police say
Evie Butterworth (pictured) has been charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs
The impact caused Ms. Sheriff’s vehicle to roll over 400 feet several times, police say.
Mrs. Sheriff suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
Butterworth was held in custody after her arrest, but successfully applied for bail when she appeared in court hours later, where magistrate Richard Huston called her to the presumption of innocence.
On Thursday, Butterworth appeared again in Perth Magistrates Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, and one of manslaughter.
Mrs. Sherriff’s Nissan X-Trail was hit on the Kwinana Freeway in the southern suburb of Baldivis before rolling several times
Butterworth appeared again in Perth Magistrates Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, and one of manslaughter
The court heard Butterworth’s toxicology report after the crash and showed traces of methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine and tetrahydrocannabinol (a psychoactive compound found in cannabis).
The court was told that the cocktail of drugs would have rendered her “incapable of operating a motor vehicle.”
Police calculated her average speed at the time of the crash to be at least 90 mph, based on her being seen at a gas station about 29 miles away at 11pm.
After the crash, Abbey’s parents Darren and Julie Sheriff told Nine News they would never be the same again.
“To have her admitted so early, 21 is just too young. She should bury us, not the other way around,’ Mr. Sherriff said.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a traffic accident, please contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814.
Darren and Julie Sheriff, Ms. Sheriff’s parents, appeared on Nine News saying things would be the same one day