Updated ,first published
A respected teacher and a beloved grandmother, on their way to pick up a wedding dress, are dead after a man who allegedly led police on an hour-long chase across Sydney’s south-west in a stolen vehicle crashed into their car.
Lee Casuscelli, 60, was driving Maureen Crosland, 84, through Camden to pick up the dress for the marriage of Crosland’s granddaughter and Casuscelli’s son at the time of the fatal crash, Nine News reported.
The tragedy was confirmed during mass on Sunday morning at St John the Evangelist Church in Campbelltown, where Crosland had long attended, said assistant priest Richard Healy.
“People were in tears at the tragedy of the whole situation. They were on their way with the mother of the groom to pick up wedding dresses. [It’s] just devastating,” he told Nine News.
Casuscelli was a respected educator with 40 years of experience who had specialised in services for children with disabilities.
Police said the pursuit had begun soon after Luke Francis, 31, allegedly punched a 25-year-old who was filling his red Toyota with fuel at a petrol station on King Georges Road in South Hurstville about 10.20am on Saturday.
The 25-year-old fell to the ground after being struck before Francis allegedly stole his car keys from his pocket as well as his mobile phone, and drove off in the car.
Highway patrol officers in Beverly Hills spotted the car a short time later, and tried to get Francis to pull over. When he did not stop, officers called in more support, including a police helicopter, to chase the car.
The vehicle pursuit was terminated when the Toyota was on the M5 motorway around Bankstown about 10.30am.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the helicopter continued to track the Toyota as officers considered different strategies to try to stop it.
“I’ve watched the footage. He was driving in what I could describe as one of the most reckless and dangerous demonstrations of driving I’ve seen in a long time,” McFadden said. “He was overtaking vehicles at speed in the breakdown lanes, was crossing onto the incorrect side of the road.”
After allegedly evading police for 50 minutes, at the intersection of Remembrance Drive and the Old Hume Highway south of Camden, the Toyota collided with an Alfa Romeo being driven by Casuscelli and carrying Crosland.
“The offending driver has gone up the inside of those vehicles at speed, crossed into the intersection and impacted with another vehicle that had the lawful opportunity to turn right,” McFadden said.
The two women were treated by police and paramedics but died at the scene.
Francis fled the scene of the crash on foot but was arrested at gunpoint by police on Nepean Avenue, Camden.
Francis was charged with offences including dangerous driving causing death, driving recklessly, driving unlicensed and assault with intent to take a vehicle. He did not apply for bail when he faced court on Sunday.
“This is a tragic set of circumstances. What we do know is that the 60-year-old driver and 84-year-old passenger, both who died at the scene, are part of an extended family … our hearts and thoughts are with that family at this devastating time,” McFadden said.
“The 31-year-old male that is in custody is well known to us, and he is directly responsible for the death of those two women.”
Police declared the pursuit and crash a critical incident and have launched an investigation, which will be overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Sunday said police were in an “impossible” situation when deciding whether to initiate pursuits.
“They’ve got to make a judgment call about whether pulling off chases encourages more of it, in the knowledge that some [alleged] criminals will see it as a green light to go faster not slower, or not listen to police directions,” Minns said.
“It’s a judgment call made by professionals in difficult circumstances.”
Police have asked anyone with dashcam footage to provide it to Crime Stoppers.
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Angus Dalton is the science reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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