A killer driver claimed to have "just hit a roo", telling someone who stopped to help in the aftermath of a horror crash not to worry about the victim's overturned car, according to court documents.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Peter James Loeschnauer, 29, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday to a charge of culpable driving causing the death of rising Canberra ice hockey star Lachlan Seary.
The unemployed Gilmore man also admitted charges of drink-driving and drug-driving, which were laid following the same March 8 crash on the Monaro Highway near Hume.
An amended, but not entirely agreed, police statement of facts was tendered to the court as members of Mr Seary's family watched on.
The document reveals Loeschnauer began drinking at the Fenway Public House in Phillip more than 12 hours before the crash.
CCTV from that venue is said to show him "fidgeting", unsteady on his feet and "constantly rocking back and forth".
Some of his companions were known members and associates of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.
Loeschnauer later returned home briefly and borrowed his father's Honda Civic sedan, which he drove into the city so he could meet up with the same people at Assembly in Braddon.
According to police, surveillance footage from that venue shows him having at least 11 drinks in a little more than two hours.
When Loeschnauer eventually got back behind the wheel again, he was captured on CCTV driving without any headlights on.
He headed for the Monaro Highway, where police calculated he was travelling for stretches at a minimum of 191km/h.
While rocketing along, Loeschnauer rear-ended the Toyota Corolla driven by 19-year-old Canberra Brave player Mr Seary, who was heading home to eat some ice cream after dropping two friends off.
The impact of the collision spun Mr Seary's car off the road and sent it rolling into a tree, leaving the teenager with a catastrophic brain injury that resulted in his death.
A short time after the crash, an Uber driver came upon the scene and pulled over.
The passenger got out and went to speak to Loeschnauer, who "looked like he was pissed" while allegedly saying he had "just hit a roo".
This man told police that when he spotted Mr Seary's car upside down and alerted Loeschnauer to it, the offender replied: "Don't worry about that."
The Uber passenger nevertheless ran to the Corolla, but nothing could be done to save the teenage ice hockey star.
Loeschnauer was arrested at the scene, and he later returned a positive drug test result for MDMA.
MORE COURT AND CRIME NEWS:
- Cage fighter invades home over disappearance of '$500k' coins
- Road raging business director grabbed woman's face 'like vice'
- 'Slice and dice': Woman with samurai sword terrorises couple
- Homeless woman's dog allegedly an offensive weapon
- 'Roughhousing' claim rejected as man jailed for abusing stepdaughter
A sample taken within hours of the incident also indicated a blood alcohol reading of 0.183 - nearly four times the legal limit to drive.
Court documents note a medical expert, Dr Vanita Parekh, compiled a report that concluded Loeschnauer would have been incapable of properly controlling a vehicle.
Loeschnauer, who was initially released from custody without charge, later received a summons to face court.
He was originally charged with manslaughter and aggravated dangerous driving, but those charges were withdrawn on Thursday and replaced with one of culpable driving following negotiations between prosecutor Patrick Dixon and defence lawyer Tom Taylor.
Magistrate Beth Campbell committed Loeschnauer, who appeared over the phone, to the ACT Supreme Court for sentence.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
