News story:
Not again - young lives lost
By FRANCES OSHEA, JUSTIN VALLEJO and LARISSA CUMMINGS
November 24, 2004
THREE more young lives have been cut tragically short after a P-plate driver behind the wheel of a high-powered car crashed into a power pole at more than 160km/h.
Witnesses estimated 20-year-old Emile Dousset may have been going as fast as 200km/h when the Nissan Skyline GT-R hit a slight dip in the road and became airborne.
Mr Dousset, his front-seat passenger Karl Homer, 33, and 15-year-old Natasha Schyf all died instantly on a suburban Central Coast road. Ms Schyf was seven months' pregnant.
The shocking accident, which comes as The Daily Telegraph campaigns for strict new restrictions for P-platers, has prompted police to appeal to drivers to slow down.
Commander of the Police Crash Investigation Unit, Senior Sergeant Peter Jenkins, said: "The circumstances of the accident are under investigation but at this stage it would appear that speed is certainly a factor that we are looking at."
Police estimate the high-powered sports car was airborne for about 40m on Chamberlain Rd, Wyoming, before it speared into the pole, and broke in two at 8.50 Monday night.
The rear section of the car was wrapped around the pole while the front section landed 20m away.
Mr Doussett and Mr Homer were thrown from the car while Ms Schyf's body was trapped in the rear section.
Sgt Jenkins urged young passengers to get out of a car if they were concerned about the manner of driving. He said: "We'd like to take this opportunity to appeal to the community to slow down.
Greg Ryan, who lives near the crash scene, said the road was like a speedway and a serious accident was inevitable.
"I've been waiting for this to happen," Mr Ryan said. "I heard the tyres lock and then a bang. I ran down the street. It was a mess."
It is understood Mr Dousset, a mechanic, and Mr Homer had become friends through their mutual interest in cars.
Less than 20 minutes before the accident, Mr Dousset had picked up Mr Homer and Ms Schyf at Gosford to take them for a drive in the distinctive royal blue Nissan.
Miss Schyf's mother Margaret, of Wyoming, said: "I don't know what he [the driver] was thinking. You hear about so many young ones who have died like this. Why do they have to speed? It's not worth it."
Miss Schyf's father Tony, described the accident as "such a waste". "Kids need a lot more experience before they get behind the wheel," he said.
"They think because they know how to drive they can drive fast."
Mr Schyf learned about his daughter's death as he was driving home from Sydney. He had been told only hours earlier that he was being retrenched from his job as a bricklayer.
Miss Schyf, the girlfriend of Mr Homer, had been due to have her first child in early January. While reluctant to talk about her daughter's pregnancy Mrs Schyf said Natasha was happy about the baby.
. But one that can out accelerate most Ferraris and Porsches. 
