A young Melbourne man's reckless decision to show off his powerful car has ended in a prison sentence, after a high-speed joyride turned into a fatal nightmare.
William Taylor, 21, was behind the wheel of a high-performance Holden Commodore SS on the evening of February 12, 2022. In a devastating act of misjudgment, he lost control of the vehicle at tremendous speed on a residential street in Melbourne's north-west.
The car mounted a nature strip, became airborne, and slammed into a tree with such catastrophic force that it split the vehicle in two. The impact was heard by residents throughout the quiet Tullamarine neighbourhood.
Tragically, Taylor's front-seat passenger and best friend, 20-year-old Jayden Tune, could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services who responded to the horrifying crash.
This week, Taylor faced the consequences of his actions in the County Court of Victoria. He was sentenced to six years in prison after previously pleading guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.
Judge Martine Marich described the incident as a "profound and enduring tragedy" for all involved. She noted that Taylor's driving was a "very serious example of a grave offence" and that his speed was "grossly excessive" for the suburban area.
The court heard that Taylor had been travelling at a minimum of 114 km/h in a 50 km/h zone just moments before the collision, demonstrating a complete disregard for the safety of his friend and the public.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Jayden Tune's mother spoke of the unimaginable grief of losing her son, stating that a part of her died with him on that fateful night.
William Taylor will be eligible for parole after serving four years of his six-year sentence. His licence has also been cancelled for a period of two years upon his release.
