11 year old Crashes SS ...

[ice180]

11-year-old driver kills man

By Mark Buttler

August 14, 2003

A FATAL decision to allow an 11-year-old to drive a high-performance car led to a man's gruesome drowning at the bottom of a freezing creek.

Murray Dance, the V8 car's owner, offered the primary school student a driving lesson in darkness and rain near Ballarat late on Tuesday night.

But Mr Dance's pride and joy – a $48,000 V8 SS Holden Commodore – ran out of control and flipped before plunging upside-down into the murky waters of Winter Creek.

The boy was able to scramble to safety but Mr Dance, 42, was trapped in his seat as water flooded the cabin.

It is believed he drowned as the child, believed to be the son of a friend, rushed to summon help.

Mr Dance's partner, Linda Meggs, said she was shocked that an 11-year-old was behind the wheel of the near-new car.

"It is very strange that he would let a young lad drive it. Never let an 11-year-old boy drive a car . . . it's insanity," she said.

CFA volunteer Wayne Pengelly braved the icy water after racing to the scene to find four wheels were the only visible sign of the vehicle.

He put his hands into the car and thought he could feel the Ballarat man, but was unable to get him out.

As he worked, ambulance officers instructed him on how long he could stay in the water before hypothermia set in.

"The water was very cold," he said.

The Commodore was towed from the creek an hour later and the rescue workers' fears were confirmed when the car-yard worker's body was found inside.

Mr Dance's brother Ian last night said his generosity may have proved his undoing.

"He was too bloody kind-hearted. He was good to kids and that's obviously what's got him in trouble," he said.

"I don't understand what happened."

Supt Lindsay Florence, of Ballarat police, said the boy had not yet been interviewed.

It was not known whether alcohol was a factor in the tragedy.

Supt Florence said children should never be allowed to drive on public roads.

"Clearly, the message I have is that it's totally unacceptable for anyone 11 years old to be driving at any time," he said.

Rural Ambulance Service spokesman Paul Bird said the sodden child was standing in the frigid night air when the first paramedics arrived.

"It's a tragedy. It will clearly have a big impact on the families involved," Mr Bird said.

The boy was treated at Ballarat Base Hospital and released yesterday.

Friends of Mr Dance, who visited the death scene yesterday, were too upset to comment on the tragedy.

[predator]

Why do they always point out the "high performance car" these days ?? Just cause bloody journos probably drive a Daewoo Matiz or some crap....could have done the same in the rain in abolutely any car... i saw that though on the news though - the cops reaction was kinda funny though "um, well 11year olds shouldn't drive cars, but if they do..." or something that i thought was kind of weird.

Was the old man just pissed, didn't want to get done, so not thinking properly let the 11 year old drive it?? wouldn't suprise me

[ice180]

wasn't his old man pred it was a friend's son.

still stupid to let an 11 year old anywhere near a car on private roads. No doubt Mr Bracks and his cronies will use this as more ammo for the speed kill campaign....

[predator]

...of course, even statistics like this are used to justify all that revenue raising.

A guy is pissed, and he happens to be speeding at the time, its put down to "speed". Guy isn't wearing seatbelts, is killed (some 20% of deaths people aren't wearing a seatbelt).. is put down to "speed"...a pedestrian is drunk, stubbles across the middle of the road at an unposted crossing, driver is going over the limit not only is it the "speed" that killed the pedestrian, the driver will be tried for manslaughter..

[R31Nismoid]

i agree with pred... pointing out 'performance' cars.

Vey rarely do you see crappy corolla's that run off the road due to unroad worthyness rather than performance.

But on the same token... if that story is actually accurate (im skeptical of the media and 'their' version of the story at times)

then that guy is a bit of the silly side. I'd never let an 11yr old in my drivers seat. If he just put his foot to the floor (as you'd see on TV) then of course you gonna be outta control.

[Jamezilla]

I was wondering what 11y/o parents were thinking letting kiddo out at midnight on a school-night with a 42 year old man... Hmmm.

[inark]

yeah sounded a little sus to me too james

[JET-33]

RIP

its a tragedy...

[ApacheX]

man, thats pretty stupid

james makes a good point, but wat kinda person would let an 11yr old drive their car? EXPECIALLY a "high performance" one?

i think thats very, VERY poor judgement on the old guys part, and sadly..he paid for it. letting a 11yr old drive his car...at night..in the rain....wat does he expect? hell, i dont let my 20yr old friends drive my car because this may happen.

[R31Nismoid]

it's the kid i'd be worried about.

not the idiot who let the kid drive.

imagine the trauma you'd got through, 11yrs ols and a guy died

all the sh*t that would be running around in your head at that age.

Hard to deal with

[ApacheX]

true, it would be hard to deal with

but take into account that none of this would have happened if the old dude was thinking straight

[adznight]

GO MATIZ!!!

[adznight]

Very sad story indeed. Pure stupidity though.