Babysitter Charged for Death of Police Officer’s Daughter in Casino Car Crash

The 18-year-old babysitter, who was driving a car along with a policeman’s four-year-old daughter when it crashed last December, has been charged over the girl’s death.

Courteney Matthews was driving a red Mazda 323 with NSW Police Sergeant Steve Underhill’s two daughters Elle (4) and Elaina (2) sitting in the back, when it was involved in a collision with a Subaru Liberty at 1.20pm on the Bruxner Highway, 10km east of Casino in northern New South Wales, on December 18.

The Mazda in split in half on impact. Elle was instantly killed while Elaina was flown to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, in a coma and with critical injuries, but survived. A seven-year-old girl who was also reportedly in the passenger seat during the accident suffered lacerations. Ms Matthews was taken to Lismore Base Hospital with a laceration to her arm.

The 81-year-old male driver of the Subaru Liberty was taken to Lismore Base Hospital with sternum injuries.

Sergeant Underhill, of the Richmond Police Local Area Command, who was off-duty at the time, was one of the first officers to respond to the scene of the accident, and was unaware that the accident involved his daughters.

Following an investigation, officers from the Richmond Crash Investigation Unit issued Ms Matthews a Future Court Attendance Notice on Wednesday.

She will face court on charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and negligent driving occasioning death.

Her licence has also been suspended, pending the hearing, and she is expected to appear at Casino Local Court on July 20.

Sources: Dailytelegraph.com.au, Au.news.yahoo.com, Smh.com.au and Dailymail.co.uk