Two dead after car crash in Camden South following police chase from Beverly Hills
Updated ,first published
A respected teacher and a beloved grandmother were killed when their car was hit by a man who allegedly led police on an hour-long chase in south-west Sydney in a stolen vehicle as they went to pick up their wedding dress.
Lee Casuscelli, 60, was driving 84-year-old Maureen Crosland through Camden to pick up a dress for the wedding of Crosland’s grandson and Casuscelli’s son at the time of the fatal crash. Nine News reported.
Deputy priest Richard Healy said the tragedy was confirmed during a service on Sunday morning at St John the Evangelist Church in Campbelltown, which Crosland had long attended.
“People burst into tears at the tragedy. They set out with the groom’s mother to buy a wedding dress. [It’s] just devastating,” he told Nine News.
Casuscelli was a respected educator with 40 years of experience, specializing in services for children with disabilities.
Police said the pursuit began shortly after Luke Francis, 31, punched a 25-year-old man who was filling up his red Toyota at a service station on King Georges Road, South Hurstville, about 10.20am on Saturday morning.
The 25-year-old fell to the ground after being shot before allegedly stealing Francis’ car keys and mobile phone from his pocket and driving away.
Highway patrol officers in Beverly Hills spotted the car a short time later and tried to get Francis to pull over. When it didn’t stop, officers called in more backup, including a police helicopter, to chase the car.
The vehicle pursuit ended when the Toyota stopped on the M5 motorway around Bankstown at around 10.30am.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said officers considered different strategies to stop it and the helicopter continued to follow the Toyota.
“I watched the footage. He was driving in what I can only describe as one of the most reckless and dangerous displays of driving I have seen in a long time,” McFadden said. “He was quickly overtaking vehicles in the breakdown lanes and getting on the wrong side of the road.”
After allegedly evading police for 50 minutes, the Toyota collided with an Alfa Romeo driven by Casuscelli and carrying Crosland at the intersection of Remembrance Drive and the Old Hume Highway south of Camden.
“The offending driver sped out of these vehicles, crossed into the intersection, and struck another vehicle that had the legal opportunity to turn right,” McFadden said.
Two women intervened by police and medical teams and died at the scene.
Francis fled the scene of the crash on foot but was arrested at gunpoint by police on Nepean Avenue in Camden.
Francis was charged with crimes such as dangerous driving causing death, careless driving, driving without a license and assault with intent to take a vehicle. He did not apply for bail when he appeared in court on Sunday.
“This is a tragic situation. What we do know is that the 60-year-old driver and the 84-year-old passenger, who both died at the scene, were part of an extended family… Our hearts and thoughts are with that family at this devastating time,” McFadden said. he said.
“We know the 31-year-old man in custody well and he is directly responsible for the deaths of the two women.”
Police declared the pursuit and crash a critical incident and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which will be overseen by the Law Enforcement Commission.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Sunday police were in an “impossible” position deciding whether to launch a pursuit.
“As some know, they have to make a decision about whether removing the chase encourages more. [alleged] Minns said criminals will see it as a green light to go faster rather than slower or to not listen to police instructions.
“This is a decision made by professionals under difficult circumstances.”
Police asked anyone with dashcam footage to forward it to Crime Stoppers.
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Angus Dalton is science correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
