Teen driver jailed for killing friend
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Drunk, drugged and driving at high speed, high school student Timothy Werps made an error that killed one of his friends and left another with lifelong injuries.
Jye Eiffert, 16, died and 18-year-old Ben Hart was left with a traumatic brain injury and serious fractures after Werps smashed his car on a residential section of Bendigo’s main road in September last year.
Werps, also 18, lost control on a slight right bend and crossed over to the wrong side of the road before ploughing into a pole, a tree, through two fences, hitting a car and coming to rest in a front yard.
It’s a scenario Victorian County Court Judge Scott Johns has seen play out again and again.
“Boys of your age, and the ages of Jye and Ben, seem to think they’re bulletproof, seem to have no concept of mortality,” he said.
The lead-up to the crash was unfortunately common, he said, describing the group as drinking and using cannabis the evening before the early morning incident.
Werps sat out while others in the group also used ecstasy. He had taken them earlier in the evening to buy more, reaching speeds up to 210km/h on that trip, according to a passenger.
Moments before the fatal collision Werps’ speed hit 160km/h in a 60km/h zone.
He braked, but the car was still travelling up to 130km/h when it struck the pole.
Jye, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died in the crash. Ben was rushed to hospital in Melbourne with significant injuries including to his head and a fractured pelvis.
Judge Johns said the number of statements he’d had from Jye’s family and friends was close to the most he had ever received in these cases.
“He is obviously a very much loved and missed young man, a vibrant person and good at sport,” he said.
The loss of a very well liked young man and discord in the community that followed the crash were all consequences of Werps’ driving.
“I don’t think I need to explain in any detail at all the consequences of driving that drug affected, that drunk, that fast with that little experience of driving that you had,” he said.
Analysis showed Werps had a blood alcohol level around .013 at the time of the crash and as well as a “high level” of THC.
While he initially denied being the driver, Judge Johns said Werps had the decency to own up when formally interviewed by police.
He said Werps was remorseful, though bail conditions had unfortunately painted a different picture.
He said the teen had been effectively silenced by orders that he not contact anyone connected with the crash or post on social media.
Werps, now 19, was jailed for nine years and three months. He’ll have to serve five years and nine months before he’s eligible for parole.
