Teenage girl to plead guilty over Kalgup crash near Busselton that killed Buckley Spicer and Luke Hopkins

The teenager behind the wheel of a fatal crash south of Busselton earlier this year will plead guilty to the accidental death of two of her passengers. The 17-year-old from Busselton, who cannot be named to protect her identity, appeared in Perth Children’s Court this week charged with two counts of manslaughter and four counts of doing an act to endanger the life, health or safety of a person. Speaking only to confirm her name, the girl’s lawyer told the court that she intended to plead guilty ahead of sentencing later this year in the Children’s Court. The girl was allegedly the driver of a blue Ford Falcon packed with six friends — including two in the boot — when she lost control at a bend on Doyle Street in Kalgup and struck a tree in April. It is understood the teenagers, all friends and students of Cape Naturalist College, had left a party in Ambergate, heading to their destination mere metres from the scene of the crash. Two of the passengers — Buckley Spicer, 16, and Luke Hopkins, 15 — died at the scene. The driver was airlifted to Perth Royal Hospital. The remaining passengers were taken to various South West hospitals. Since the incident, friends, family and loved ones have rallied behind the girl charged and the victims of the crash. At the time, South West Supt Geoff Stewart said the crash was the sort that regional communities dreaded.