North Lakes crash: Perth teenage driver charged with manslaughter for Nick Campo death
A young driver suspected of being involved in a fatal crash that claimed the life of a rising football star has had one of his dangerous driving charges upgraded.
The 17-year-old teenager, whose name cannot be released, was believed to have been behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux when it collided with a black Jeep Patriot SUV in Perth shortly before midnight on July 13, killing 18-year-old junior footballer Nick Campo.
Western Australia police announced on Sunday that the charge against the driver had been upgraded from dangerous driving to manslaughter.
He is due to appear in Perth Children’s Court on September 10.
The teenager was also charged with three counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
He had previously appeared in court from his hospital bed, just days after the crash, and was granted bail, but on condition that he not drive or make contact with the passengers in the car.
However, this last condition does not apply to a passenger who accompanies the driver to school and is a good friend.
The Hilux was carrying five people, including the driver, three 18-year-olds – Nick Campo, Tyler Rowe and Josh Jackson – and a second 17-year-old boy.
The driver allegedly responsible for a fatal crash that killed Nick Campo (pictured) has been charged with manslaughter
The group had just left Mr Campo’s (pictured) 18th birthday party when it crashed on Farrington Road in North Lake, south of Perth
The group had just left Campo’s 18th birthday party when the vehicle crashed on Farrington Road in North Lake, south of Perth.
Rowe was taken to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition, where he remained in a coma in intensive care for nine days. His chance of survival was 50 percent.
Rowe broke his silence on Thursday after recently being released from the hospital.
Rather than focusing on his miraculous release from Royal Perth Hospital, he spoke about the night of the accident and his grief for his good friend Campo.
The duo both played for South Fremantle Colts Football Club.
Tyler Rowe (pictured after being released from the hospital) broke his silence on Thursday
“I didn’t know what had happened. My parents had to tell me I’d been in a car accident and I thought, ‘That can’t be happening,'” Rowe told Nine News.
‘I really wish it wasn’t Nick because it hurt me a lot… I know it hurt his family a lot.
“Every time I saw him, we always had a joke about something. He was always laughing…he was one of a kind.”
Rowe recently replaced his online profile picture with a photo of Campo.
Next to a heart emoji, he wrote, “RIP Campo.”