Canberra teenager who died from critical injuries sustained in stolen car crash was not driving at the time, police say
Flowers and a cross left at the site of the fatal car crash on Adelaide Avenue. (ABC News: Simon Beardsell)
In short:
Police say an Indigenous 15-year-old who died of injuries sustained when a stolen car hit a concrete barrier and flipped near Parliament House was not driving at the time.
Forensic and CCTV evidence shows there were two others in the vehicle, one of whom was driving, who were picked up in another car shortly after the collision.
What's next?
ACT Policing says they are "closing in" on the people believed to have survived the April collision.
A Canberra teenager who died from injuries sustained in a car crash involving a stolen vehicle in April was not driving at the time of the collision, police have confirmed.
Warning: This article contains details and images that may be distressing to some readers.
The damaged car, a Toyota Camry, was found on its roof in the middle of Adelaide Avenue near Parliament House just before 5am.
A stolen Genesis GV80 SUV was found partially burned out in Theodore on the same day it picked up two people from the site of a fatal crash in Canberra. (Supplied: ACT Policing)
The deceased, an Indigenous 15-year-old who cannot be named because he was under the care of the state at the time, was found five to 10 metres away from the flipped sedan.
He was rushed to Canberra Hospital in critical condition, where he died of his injuries.
ACT Policing Major Collision Team Acting Sergeant Nathan Smorhun said CCTV showed a stolen black Genesis GV80 SUV picked up two other people who were in the Camry from the collision scene soon after the incident.
"I can confirm there was a second car involved, it was a stolen black Genesis that was recovered later the morning of the collision," he said.
"What I can confirm is that vehicle did stop and collect two people from the Camry, believed to be the driver and another passenger that was in the Camry at the time.
"I can also confirm that, obviously, the deceased was not the driver, as the driver was taken away from the scene."
The stolen Genesis was located in Theodore, partially burned out, on the same day as the crash.
The white Toyota Camry was found on its roof in the middle of Adelaide Avenue near Parliament House. (ABC News: Mark Moore)
Forensic testing of both vehicles confirmed the deceased teenager was not the one driving the Camry at the time of the fatal collision.
It also confirmed the two other people in the Camry – including the driver – were picked up in the Genesis.
Acting Sergeant Smorhun said at the moment "very little" was known about who drove the Genesis to pick them up.
"There's been some CCTV footage collected [from] shortly before the collision that shows both vehicles, and shortly after the collision that shows the Genesis leaving the scene," he said.
"And forensic testing of both vehicles has linked people from both vehicles together.
"[But] obviously we'd be very happy to talk with the driver of the Genesis who'd be able to provide some very valuable information in relation to what happened that night."
Major Collision Team Acting Sergeant Nathan Smorhun says police would like to talk to the driver of the stolen black Genesis. (ABC News: Mark Moore)
Detective Sergeant Jonathon Turkich of the Major Collision Team said police were "closing in" on the two people believed to have survived the April collision.
"The information gathered by our investigative team is leading us towards two particular suspects," he said.
"To those people, I would say now is the time to come forward and take responsibility for your involvement in this tragic incident.
"I understand it is difficult, it must be incredibly stressful to live in fear around your involvement in the death of someone you likely knew as a friend – but make no mistake, this will not be going away."
Police are asking anyone who may have information related to the collision, or the people involved, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website, and quote reference number 7726381.