By JESSE GRAHAM
UPDATE: MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER
A HEALESVILLE boy faced court earlier today, charged with culpable driving after last month’s fatality in Yarra Glen, which killed 16-year-old Cooper Ratten.
Victoria Police announced on Tuesday, 8 September that a 17-year-old Healesville boy, the driver of the car, was charged in regards to the fatality, which occurred on 16 August.
The boy has been charged with culpable driving, dangerous driving causing death, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, among other offences.
He faced Children’s Court for a filing hearing on Monday, 14 September, and will return to court for a committal mention hearing on 7 January, 2016.
A 17-year-old Yarra Glen boy, the front passenger in the car, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle on 25 August, and is expected to face court at a later date.
The charges follow the fatal crash, where a stolen 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan rolled off of Glenview Road, Yarra Glen, at 3.04am on 16 August.
Cooper, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown 40 metres from the vehicle, and died en route to hospital.
Police at the time said speed, drugs and alcohol were all factors in the crash – Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU) Detective Sergeant David Yeoman said at the time that the car was travelling “well in excess of 100km/h”.
The posted speed on the road is 80km/h, and the road was foggy at the time of the crash.
Other media outlets have reported that the Healesville boy’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was 0.107 – more than twice the legal limit for adult drivers, and that traces of MDMA were found in his system hours after the crash.
However, Det Sgt Yeoman, speaking to the Mail on Monday afternoon, said he was unable to immediately confirm these details.
The Yarra Glen community, as well as the wider football community, has since come out in mourning for Cooper, who was a footballer with the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club along with the other two occupants of the car.
His father, Brett Ratten, was a former footballer with the club and the current assistant coach of Hawthorn Football Club.
Cooper was farewelled in a funeral on 24 August in Lilydale.
