Driver Pleads for Leniency After Fatal Crash That Killed Girlfriend and Friend
A man who caused a devastating crash that killed his girlfriend and her friend has pleaded for leniency in court, as heartbroken families told the judge their lives have been irreparably shattered. Seth Rigney, aged 24, returned to court on Tuesday for sentencing submissions over the deadly collision at Korunye near Two Wells in Adelaide's north in February 2024.
Details of the Tragic Collision
Rigney was driving to celebrate his own birthday during a camping trip with friends when he failed to stop at both a stop sign and a give way sign at the intersection of Mallala Road and Navvy Hill Road. His vehicle collided with a school bus that was heading out for morning pick-ups, causing both vehicles to roll over in the violent impact.
His girlfriend, 22-year-old Chloe Glasson, died tragically at the scene. A second passenger—a 19-year-old woman whose family has requested she not be identified—was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but succumbed to severe brain swelling days later. Rigney and another passenger were also airlifted to hospital with injuries, while his brother and friends, who were travelling behind in another car, witnessed the horrific crash firsthand.
Court Proceedings and Emotional Testimonies
Originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving, prosecutors later accepted guilty pleas to the lesser offences of three counts of aggravated driving without due care. In court, Chloe's mother, Belle Glasson, described the moment her world changed forever.
"Our world collapsed and our family was destroyed," she said emotionally. "The worst thing for a mother is to have to identify her child."
The mother of the 19-year-old victim stated that her daughter was "her rock" and that Rigney had "destroyed their family." She walked out of the courtroom before Rigney offered his apology, refusing to hear him speak.
Apologies and Anguish in the Courtroom
Rigney expressed deep remorse in court, saying, "I will carry the guilt and sorrow for the rest of my life, I am sorry for the harm I caused." However, Chloe's friends addressed him directly with raw anger and pain.
"I'm so angry at you Seth... your careless and selfish decisions that resulted in a world of pain for us," one friend declared. "You called her the love of your life, but it took less than two weeks to start partying again."
Legal Arguments and Judicial Response
Rigney's lawyer urged the court to consider a suspended sentence or home detention, arguing that he had shown genuine remorse and suffered significant personal loss from the tragedy. However, the judge noted critically that Rigney had ignored two crucial road signs before the crash, remarking, "We wouldn't be here."
Seth Rigney is scheduled to be sentenced in March, as the community awaits the court's final decision on this heartbreaking case.
