By Kevin Airs and Eliza Mcphee For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 07:34 EDT, 8 September 2022 | Updated: 19:27 EDT, 8 September 2022
The intensity of sadness was unbearable.
At the very spot where their five mates so tragically died just hours before, they silently gathered together to share their grief.
It began early in the day, with a trickle of school children paying their respects where the ute driven by Tyrell Edwards, 18, slammed into trees on Tuesday night, killing his five young teenage pals.
Lily van de Putte, 15, Antonio Desisto, 15, Summer Williams, 14, Tyrese Bechard, 16, and a 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all lost their lives.
Some came alone, some came with a parent, others came with their friends, propping each other up as the tears flowed for those they'll never see again.
But just before lunchtime, the trickle became a flood. It seemed like every teen in Buxton, 100km south-west of Sydney, had made their way to that awful crash scene.
The intensity of sadness was unbearable. At the very spot where their five mates so tragically died just hours before, schoolmates and friends silently gathered together to share their grief
The school children paid their respects where the ute driven by Tyrell Edwards, 18, slammed into trees on Tuesday night, killing his five young teenage pals
Tyrese Bechard (left), 16, was sadly killed in the accident and had been wanting to get a trades apprenticeship. Summer Williams was just 14 (right)
For many it was a rapid lesson in growing up fast and facing unimaginable tragedy. Children too young to shave or vote were confronted by grief no-one should ever have to bear.
And they bore it well. The parents of Buxton and the neighbouring rural hamlets of Thirlmere and Tahmoor should be proud of their young sons and daughters today.
They hugged, they sobbed, they embraced and then they just sat quietly in a circle around the foot of the scarred tree for what seemed like an eternity.
There were no mawkish displays or dramatics, no insensitive selfies or livestreams. This was the pride of Australia sitting in respectful, reflective silence, caught up in the moment of that intense, unbearable sadness.
They circled the floral tributes - with heart-wrenching messages of love and regret - which had continued to grow since the horrific crash at 8pm on Tuesday.
Added to the sea of posies and bouquets were stuffed toys, soccer balls and the runners and hoodie sweatshirt of one of the victims, Antonio Desisto, 16.
A makeshift cross honouring the young lives lost has been nailed to the second of the two trees which trapped the ute in their devastating grip, ripping the ute apart, killing everyone inside except driver, Tyrell Edwards
The friends of the dead were overcome with emotion as they laid flowers at the scene
Also strewn among the flowers were the shattered remains of a green P plate which was believed to have been on the ute when it crashed.
Just a couple of metres away, the road still bore the apparent scars where the ute is said to have slid on its side - seemingly straight at first, then suddenly, violently and fatally swerving into the roadside trees.
A makeshift cross honouring the young lives lost has been nailed to the second of the two trees which trapped the ute in their devastating grip, ripping the ute apart, killing everyone inside except driver, Tyrell Edwards
And even the many flowers at the scene could not disguise the stench of diesel left over from the crash, soaking into the sawdust left to mop up the scene of horrifying carnage.
Floral tributes - with heart-wrenching messages of love and regret - have continued to grow in number at the site since the horrific crash at 8pm on Tuesday
The tragedy has been a rapid lesson in growing up fast and facing unimaginable horror
Kiana Apps, 17, fondly recalled her friendship with two of the teen victims, Summer Williams, 15, and Antonio Desisto.
'Antonio was a bit of a reckless kid and a daredevil, but he was always looking to make you smile and always being stupid,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'And Summer was just the sweetest girl. She had the biggest attitude and was really sassy - it's just so sad.
'We had so many sleepovers and just ran around the streets together. It just sucks.'
She added: 'It's such a small close-knit area. As soon as I heard about it on the radio, I had a gut feeling I knew who would be involved.
'They were like family to me. Summer was like my family and my younger cousin was Antonio's best mate.
'There's so many people who are going to be affected by this.'
Some came alone, some came with a parent, others came with each other for support
Also among the sea of posies and bouquets were stuffed toys, soccer balls and the runners and hoodie sweatshirt of one of the victims, Antonio Desisto, 16
Driver Tyrrell Edwards (left), 18, and victim Antonio Desisto (right), 15, are seen together before the crash
Finally, there were simply no more tears left to cry among the gathered crowd.
The teens, some in various school uniforms, some more casual, gradually picked themselves up, and with one last emotional bite of a knuckle or tight embrace, they drifted away, as quietly and respectfully as they arrived.
It will be a long time before they can ever truly move on though. This tragedy will stay with them all for life.
The father of a boy who died in a horror crash that killed five teens has broken down in tears outside court, saying 'I've got to visit my son at the f***ing morgue' and paying tribute to his 'best mate'.
Exaven Desisto lost his son Antonio, 16, on Tuesday night when the Nissan ute he was travelling in smashed into a tree on East Parade in the small town of Buxton, 100km southwest of Sydney.
Antonio was one of five teenagers, all aged between 14 and 16, who were killed that night, with the driver Tyrell Edwards, 18, the sole survivor.
Edwards was charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and was refused bail when he appeared via video link at Picton Local Court on Thursday afternoon.
He was transferred in handcuffs in a prison van to Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre.
Edwards allegedly used his phone to film Snapchat video of himself aggressively turning the wheel and swerving at 90km/hour before the crash, police say.
Daily Mail Australia can publish Antonio's identity after Mr Desisto provided permission for his details to be published
Exaven Desisto, the father of victim Antonio, broke down in tears outside court on Thursday
Antonio was one of five teenagers, all aged between 14 and 16 killed that night, with the driver Tyrell Edwards, 18, the sole survivor
Lily Van De Putte, 15, was one of five teens killed after the car they were in smashed into a tree on Tuesday night
Edwards was transferred in handcuffs in a prison van to Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre
Police will also allege that Edwards was heard by a witness after the horror smash saying: 'I f***ed up, I'm going to jail'.
During his bail application on Thursday, the court heard that Edwards had prior speeding offences which led to his licence being suspended on two separate occasions.
Mr Desisto sobbed inside the courtroom when Edwards' case was mentioned.
Outside, the shattered father hugged police officers, and described his son as his 'best friend' to Daily Mail Australia and other media.
'He literally never left my side. I didn't have many friends, I have a couple of best mates but my son was my best friend,' he said, clearly overwhelmed with emotion.
'We did everything together, I brought him up, he was just the most happy and humble kid. He used to pray before every meal he put in his mouth.'
Mr Desisto spoke of his heartache at never being able to be with his son again.
'I have to visit my son in a f**king morgue,' he said.
Five teenagers were killed in the horror crash around 100km southwest of Sydney on Tuesday night
Mr Desisto sobbed inside the courtroom when Edwards' case was mentioned and described his son as his 'best friend'
Mr Desisto also spoke of his heartache at never being able to be with his son again
Outside court the shattered father hugged police officers, as he described his son as his 'best friend'
In videos he shared of his son, one shows Mr Desisto playfully teasing Antonio as he lifted weights in the gym.
Another showed Antonio dancing in a cafe while his father laughed behind the camera.
Mr Desisto said those involved needed to be held accountable for their actions.
According to court documents, police will allege footage of the teens from inside the car shows the moments before the crash.
Footage from around an hour before the crash allegedly shows Edwards holding his phone while aggressively turning the steering wheel.
Loud music can also apparently be heard, court documents said, with the passengers laughing as the vehicle swerved at 90km/h.
One male allegedly said: 'We're going to spin out cuz.'
Witnesses alleged the car travelled at 'high speeds' and was on the wrong side of the road before coming back to the right side before the crash.
A large crowd of supporters attended Tyrell Edwards' first court appearance in Picton, in Sydney's south-west, on Thursday
The rear cabin is said to have been torn open by the impact of the crash, which was so severe that a rear seat was ejected from the car.
Edwards was allegedly unable to free himself from the wreck, while another victim was trapped in a passenger seat.
In an interview with officers, Edwards allegedly told police his steering wheel began 'shaking' and that he lost control of the vehicle.
He said he couldn't control the vehicle and tried to brake but it didn't significantly slow. Police allege roadway evidence from the scene does not support his account.
The driver also allegedly claimed he only knew about four passengers and didn't know when the fifth one entered the car.
Edwards appeared expressionless in court via video link, and sat with his hands clasped together while wearing a black hoodie.
The court heard he obtained his provisional licence in February last year but has had his licence suspended twice since for speeding offences, the court heard.
Friends of the five students killed on Tuesday visited the site of the crash Wednesday morning
Magistrate Mark Douglass said the decision to deny bail was 'not made easily' but he had taken into account Edwards' driving history.
'Given the egregious breach of trust, given the blatant breach of road rules that police allege occurred, this court has no confidence that this particular person would comply, given the history I've explained, with any bail conditions the court set at this particular point in time,' Mr Douglass said.
Edwards, who works as a labourer, has a history of anxiety and was left 'traumatised' by the incident, the court heard.
Edwards will return to court on November 16. He has no previous criminal history. He will receive mental health support while in custody.
His family were in court and said nothing to the waiting media.
Back in Buxton, heartbroken friends, family and school mates continue to mourn the loss of the five teenagers in the horror smash.
Two of the teenagers were in a romantic relationship and several were in their school uniforms when the ute slammed into a tree on Tuesday night.
The father of one of the girls, 15-year-old Lily Van De Putte, revealed he has been haunted by a text message his daughter sent him just hours before the crash - she asked: 'Dad, can I go out tonight?'
He missed the message as he was in hospital for an unrelated matter.
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Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
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