News : Red Shore bassist to face crash charges

THE bass player of a Victorian heavy metal band has been charged over a crash that killed his lead singer and a roadie.

The Red Shore’s Jamie Hope will face court accused of negligent driving causing death and grievous bodily harm. NSW police travelled to Geelong to quiz Hope, his band mates and the victims’ families this week.

Hope, 21, was behind the wheel of the band’s tour van when it veered off the Pacific Highway, plunged down an embankment and smashed into a tree near Coffs Harbour on December 19 last year. The crash killed the Geelong-based band’s lead singer Damien Morris, 27, and roadie Andy Milner, 22.

The musicians were headed to Sydney to play a gig after performing in Brisbane the previous night when their white mini-bus careered off the road and flipped several times at Moonee Beach, north of Coffs Harbour.

The group was on a “Christmas Carnage” tour with US band All Shall Perish. Morris died at the scene, while Milner later died in hospital. Three other men also suffered serious injuries.

Hope was yesterday charged on summons with two counts of negligent driving causing death and three counts of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm. Negligent driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 18 months’ jail and/or $3300 in NSW.

The bassist is due to face court in Coffs Harbour on August 4.

The charges come just ahead of the band’s first national tour since the tragedy. The band has pledged to play on in tribute to their dead friends.

“Words cannot express our pain and frustration over these events, but the support we have received from everyone has been absolutely amazing. We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts” a note on their MySpace page reads.

From: news.com.au