A policewoman held the hand of a driver in the moments before he died after a crash that killed four...

1. Police probe ice link to crash deaths
A policewoman held the hand of a driver in the moments before he died after a crash that killed four
men.
L-R: Victims Corey Bray, Nick Mongta, Chris Reddin and Joshua Taylor. Source: HeraldSun
Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
THE deadly drug ice will be the focus of a police investigation into the deaths of four young mates in
a horror road smash yesterday.
Nick Mongta, Joshua Taylor, Corey Bray and Chris Reddin, aged 19 to 28, died when the car they
were in became airborne and slammed into a tree near the small town of Pyalong, north of
Melbourne.
A canister with a white crystal substance inside, along with ice pipes, were found in the wreckage.
Police are yet to officially identify who was behind the wheel.
One of the four survived for 15 minutes, holding the hand of a police officer, before dying.
Assistant Commissioner (road policing) Bob Hill told the Herald Sun: "I can confirm that we located
a quantity of white crystal substance and drug paraphernalia.
"Our forensic investigation will determine whether illicit drugs were involved," he said.
"There is an ice epidemic in this state, and it is having a significant impact on our roads.''
The Herald Sun understands at least one of the men was known to police.
Speed is not considered a factor in the crash.
Mr Hill described the crash as "one of the worst seen".
The car was travelling north on the Northern Highway -- which has a 100km/h limit -- approaching
Pyalong, when the driver lost control near Halpin Rd about 6.30am.
"For one reason or another, (the car) has not taken that left-hand bend and just travelled virtually
straight along the road," Mr Hill said.
"The car has careered to the right-hand side and travelled off the road.
"It has struck ... the commencement of a wire road barrier. It then travelled airborne for some
distance and then has crashed into a tree after rolling.

2. "The roof of the vehicle has actually struck the tree."
Police say a P-plate was found near the car.
The four are believed to have been travelling from the Melbourne metropolitan area -- possibly
Craigieburn -- to Echuca-Moama.
They were driving in a 2001 Holden V8 SS Commodore, registered to an Echuca relative of one of
them.
One friend claimed to have seen the men driving through Heathcote about 4am, and said they called
out to him.
Mr Hill said the car was "one of those vehicles that we do not allow probationary drivers to drive".
The Major Collision Investigation Unit, the Disaster Victim Identification Unit were at the scene. Mr
Hill said police had not yet spoken to any witnesses, just a number of people who had rushed to the
site soon after the accident.
"We also have a number of people contact us who heard the incident unfold," he said.
Relatives of Echuca plumber Corey Bray, 28, said the tragedy was a "senseless loss".
"We are in shock," said his uncle, Terry Bray.
"It sounds like it was just someone who fell asleep at the wheel ... But we don't know."
Mr Bray worked with Corey for years at Echuca Moama Caravans, along with the young man's
father, Ron, who owns the business.
He said the family was struggling to comprehend the tragedy and were yet to be told the
circumstances of the crash.
Mr Bray was described as fun-loving and hardworking and popular in the town.
"He was a unique individual with a lot of friends.
"He was quite a philosopher and always had an opinion on things."
The father of Nick Mongta, Walter, said the group had driven to Melbourne in Nick's car on Tuesday
morning for a belated Australia Day catch-up with friends.
One of Nick's brothers said he believed Nick had been sleeping in a passenger seat when a phone
call was made to the car's occupants during their drive back.
Nick had a 10-month old daughter to a former partner.
"It sounds like fatigue was a factor," Walter Mongta said.

3. "He was a fine young gentleman. His younger
brothers and sisters looked up to him. He
loved his motorbike riding and his cars."
Chris Reddin, 22, of Echuca, leaves behind
son Logan, 3, and stepson Jamah, 8.
His partner of seven years, Paige Cemino,
tearfully told the Herald Sun she didn't know
how to break the news of his death to her
boys.
"It's hard to explain to them," the 23-year-old
said.
"They don't understand."
Ms Cemino, the boys, and Mr Reddin's stepfather Greg Ibbs, 59, yesterday travelled to the crash
scene.
They said that Mr Reddin had worked a number of jobs, including as a shearer, over the years.
"He was a good person," Ms Cemino said.
Mr Ibbs said that his stepson had been a good father to Logan and Jamah. And he said that Mr
Reddin's mother had been devastated by his death: "She's not real good."
Ms Cemino said she had grown up with Mr Reddin and Nick Mongta, 22, who had lived with his
mum in Echuca.
Shire of Campaspe mayor Cr Leigh Wilson said: "The impact will be severely felt.
"It's going to leave a mark and take a good deal of time to move on from this.
"We need to take a leadership role, all of us, and encourage our kids, our younger brothers and
sisters, our colleagues and friends, to be careful on the road.
"These are our future and we are losing them."
Grieving relatives and friends expressed disbelief.
Hundreds took to social media to post messages and photos of happy times they'd shared with the
group.
Mr Taylor's girlfriend, Celeste Campbell, posted an image of a broken heart, along with intimate
photographs that showed Mr Taylor wrapping his arms around her.
Corrine Mongta, believed to be Mr Mongta's sister, thanked everyone for their support.

4. "Thank you for everyone's kind messages, love and support to our family," she wrote.
"I can't seem to wrap my head around what's happened but hearing his cheeky voice on message
bank lets me know we are all going to be OK.
"I love you boys with all of my heart.
"Rest in paradise brothers taken from us way too soon."
Tom Warren wrote online that he may have been the last person to see the four mates alive.
"I was at the BP servo in Heathcote at 4am while I was travelling to work when they called out to
me," he wrote.
"That's horrible to find out I was probably the last person to see them before this horrible accident."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/police-probe-ice-link-to-horror-smash-in-pyalong-central-
victoria/story-fni0fit3-1227200183481?from=herald+sun_rss