A heartbroken mother has issued a sobering plea to young criminals after her 14-year-old son was killed in a stolen car crash in Victoria.
Chereeta Wightman is desperate for the death of her son Connroy to not be in vain as her two young nephews face the fight of their lives in hospital.
Eighteen-year-old Dougie Sullivan, his little brother Deondre Hayes, 14, and their cousin Connroy Clark, 14, were all inside a stolen Hilux which crashed on the Calder Highway, in regional Victoria, on Saturday.
Police allege the Toyota Hilux was stolen from a hotel in Mildura at 11.30pm on Friday night.
Seven hours later, at 6.30am on Saturday, police allege it was involved in a fuel drive-off.
Then just before 10am, more than 300km away, the ute veered off the road and into a tree.
Dougie and Deondre were both critically injured. Connroy died at the scene.
âHe was fun-loving, outgoing, a good-spirited kid, very respectful,â his mother Chereeta Wightman said.
Maryanne Frost and Chereeta Wightman speak to 7NEWS. Credit: 7NEWS
(From L to R) Connroy Clark, Dougie Sullivan and Deondre Hayes were involved in the crash. Credit: 7NEWS
Wightman said her 14-year-old son had had previous run-ins with the law.
âWeâve tried so hard to keep Connroy on a straight and narrow and to keep him out of trouble,â Wightman said.
âIf people actually knew these boysâ story and what they went through growing up, they would understand,â their aunty added.
The boys now have to deal with the consequences, especially Dougie, who was the driver.
âAt the end of the day, heâs got to live with what heâs done, you know. I feel for him. I feel for both the boys, all of them, and my son,â Wightman said.
The family is now hoping this story serves as a warning to other troubled teens.
âOur boys, they are loving boys. Yeah, they made the wrong choice, but people shouldnât go judging them,â the boysâ aunty Maryanne Frost said.
âIt just takes one little mistake. Then your familyâs suffering, and then weâve got to go through the pain of burying yous.â
The horrific crash killed Connroy. Credit: 7NEWS
The heartbroken family is pleading with young criminals after Connroyâs death. Credit: 7NEWS
Eighteen-year-old Dougie has since undergone surgery at The Alfred Hospital.
He has lost the lower part of his right leg and doctors will need to decide if any more needs to be amputated.
He has very serious injuries, including broken ribs and a bleed on the brain.
His 14-year-old brother is in the ICU at the Royal Childrenâs Hospital, with doctors extremely concerned about a bleed and swelling on his brain.
The family has set up a fundraiser as they face a long road to recovery.
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/heartbroken-mothers-plea-to-young-criminals-after-14yo-dies-in-stolen-car-crash-in-regional-victoria-c-22298403


