Vic: Alleged drag racing P-platers charged over woman's death

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2006
Vic: Alleged drag racing P-platers charged over woman's death

MELBOURNE, April 13 AAP - Two teenage P-platers allegedly drag racing at speeds of
up to 150kph north of Melbourne faced court today charged over the death of a young woman.

Medical receptionist Sharn Kelly, 25, of Northcote, was on her way to drop off mail
during her lunch break on December 5 last year.

She was driving out of Lydia Avenue onto Sydney Road, Campbellfield, when a car hit
her Holden Barina, killing her instantly.

Police allege Adrian Kevin Roast, 19, of Wallan, was driving a 1980s Commodore Sedan
at 122kph along Sydney Road - an 80kph zone - when he hit Ms Kelly's Barina.

He allegedly had his 11-year-old brother Alexander in the car with him. The younger
boy was treated for minor injuries.

Roast sustained serious injuries in the crash and has been in Royal Melbourne Hospital
since. He was charged last Friday at the hospital.

Roast faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court today along with Shaun Ian Guthridge, 18, of Wodonga.

Both were charged with a string of offences including culpable driving, driving in
a manner that placed others in danger of death and driving in a manner that placed others
in danger of serious injury.

Guthridge was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and failing
to stop after an accident.

In a bail hearing for Guthridge last week, police were unsuccessful in their attempt
to have him banned from driving.

Sergeant Greg Dean told the Wodonga Magistrates' Court Guthridge was drag racing with
the car that hit Ms Kelly's Barina.

He told the court witnesses saw two cars darting around traffic for about 1.5km before
the smash, travelling at speeds of up to 150kph.

Sgt Dean told the court Guthridge had been caught for speeding and doing a burnout
in his car after the crash.

But Magistrate Mary Robertson rejected the application to have Guthridge banned from driving.

Guthridge went to the Wodonga police station the night of the accident but was not
charged until a week ago.

He had two passengers in the car with him.

Today Magistrate Hugh Walter extended bail for Roast and Guthridge and ordered them
to appear in the same court on June 29.

AAP mj/dk/sco/nf

KEYWORD: ROAST

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