Nth Shore crash no accident: Dad
Dead teen’s father tells of nightmares and flashbacks
The father of an Auckland teenager who died after a drunken beach crash at Rothesay Bay is living with nightmares as he replays the last hours of his son’s life.
Robbie Cederwall’s father, Tony Cederwall, read an emotional statement to the court yesterday as Regan Colin Hutchison Baxter, 18, was sentenced to home detention after the ute he was driving rolled and crashed in June, injuring Robbie, who died two days later.
“Every night is filled with nightmares and flashbacks,” Tony said.
“Two policemen knocking on my door to say Robbie had been in car accident and may not survive . . . Memories of the doctors telling me he wasn’t going to survive. Memories of his funeral and memories of having to bury him. How much pain he must’ve been in before he died.
“No parent should have to go through what I’ve been through, no parent should have to bury their child,” Cederwall said.
Baxter was first charged with dangerous driving causing injury but on July 16 police added three more charges — driving dangerously causing death, failing to stop or ascertain injury and excess breath alcohol for a person under 20. On July 18 he admitted all charges and yesterday was sentenced in the North Shore District Court.
On June 24 Baxter was driving a Toyota Hilux carrying seven others — in the cab and on the tray — and was showing off by performing doughnuts on the beach.
The ute rolled and crashed. Baxter panicked and fled as his injured passengers lay on the sand.
He later returned, but 17-year-old Robbie was critically injured.
Robbie’s father, choking back tears, told the court his son was enjoying one of the happiest years of his life.
Robbie was a prefect and student leader at Rangitoto College. He was a proud New Zealand Samoan, who, despite being born with clubbed feet, became a talented member of the dance group, Tony Cederwall said.
The father, comforting his daughter, said his boy volunteered every Saturday at the Salvation Army and delivered Christmas hampers.
He told the court he would fondly remember camping trips with Robbie, who was going to study at Victoria University of Wellington. “A beautiful boy . . . He was my best friend.”
Cederwall said that since his son’s funeral there had been an outpouring of support but also an overwhelming feeling of anger.
“How did this happen? Why did someone drive drunk?” he asked.
“Why did this person do doughnuts and after rolling the vehicle run off and leave Robbie on the beach to die?
“The truth is it wasn’t an accident, something was always going to happen . . . Drink driving and doing doughnuts . . . with eight people, it was always going to end in tears.”
Turning to Baxter in the dock, he said: “I know you didn’t mean to kill Robbie but the fact is that he is dead.”
Cederwall asked the young man to “live on to a higher standard, Robbie’s standard”. “I don’t want to hear that you’re on drugs or have been caught drink-driving again.”
The father asked Judge Jonathan Down to send a message of deterrence to young people one which says “that they know it’s not okay to drink dive and put others at risk”.
Robbie’s organs were donated and have saved the lives of five others.
Robbie’s mum also said in a written statement she did not want prison life to be part of Baxter’s narrative.
As a mother, she said, she wanted to limit “any further harm to all the victims of this tragedy”.
“I am writing to request leniency in sentence,” she said.
“Robbie is not here to speak but those who loved him are.”
Judge Down said while Baxter was the driver, had provided the ute, and made a “stupid decision”, he was part of “a group of young people carried away in excitement”.
He said there would be no further benefit to be gained by sending Baxter to prison, which he said could have a devastating effect on his future.
“It would be cruel [to do that just to] send a slightly stronger message to the community,” he said.
Baxter will serve a maximum one year of home detention, 200 hours’ community work and is disqualified from driving for two years.