Teen sentenced over Bruce Highway crash that killed young Queensland couple

An 18-year-old Townsville man will not serve time in custody over a Bruce Highway crash that killed a young couple in late 2019.

Evan Fielder, 19, was driving with passenger Lauren Quabba, 16, south of Cairns when an oncoming car veered across double lines and collided with their vehicle.

The then-17-year-old driver of the oncoming car, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, possessing dangerous drugs, and authority required to possess explosives during his sentencing at the Children’s Court of Queensland in Townsville today.

The parents of Mr Fielder and Lauren delivered harrowing victim impact statements that brought Judge John Coker to tears.

Lauren’s mother, Rhonda Quabba, told the court she was in “constant torment” after the death of her daughter.

“I will always be broken and I will never stop missing her,” she said.

“This is my life now.”

‘Treading water’

Lauren’s father, Rodney Quabba, said he had struggled to come to terms with the circumstances of his daughter’s sudden death.

“Her death is a consequence that was handed to her and Evan upon that fateful Sunday evening through the liberty of choice by another person,” he said.

Wayne Fielder told the court his son Evan was “just beginning” his life.

“He had an amazing work ethic, loved his dream job of being a tennis coach — he mentored dozens of children every week,” Mr Fielder said.

“The gaping hole that Evan’s death has left affects us all every single day and night.

“Life has now become about treading water, just getting through each day, not really being able to feel happiness or joy.”

Driver fatigued

The court heard that the defendant, who had a provisional license, had attended a music festival and taken MDMA the day before the fatal crash.

He is believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel and veered onto the opposite side of the road colliding with the couples vehicle head on.

A sample of his blood showed he had 0.13 milligrams per kilogram of MDMA in his system at the time, but was not under the influence.

During a search of his car police found a capsule of MDMA and an undischarged round of ammunition.

In his sentencing Judge John Coker acknowledged the trauma the teenager had experienced after the fatal crash.

“You have suffered, obviously, physical injury and, as it is suggested in a psychological report, psychological injuries and they will be long standing and perhaps lifelong,” he said.

“The far more significant consequence here was the death of Evan and Lauren and the fact that their opportunities for a long, happy and productive life were cut short as a result of a failure by you.”

‘If I had such power’

Judge Coker was overwhelmed with emotion when referencing the victim impact statements read to the court.

“They are heart-wrenching,” he said.

“If I had such power the very first thing that anyone would do would be to see the return of those children to their families.

“I have no such power, I wish to god I did.”

Judge Coker sentenced the teenager to 12 months detention, to be suspended and served by a three month release order, and disqualified him from driving for two years.

No convictions were recorded.