Teen crashed at 130kmh. His dashcam revealed 48 alleged offences
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A teenager whose own dash cam exposed 48 alleged driving offences says he has learnt not to be an idiot and thanked police for teaching him a lesson, after he almost hit a woman. Marcellus Otero faces six counts each of street racing, speeding by more than 45km/h and driving dangerously, recklessly or furiously.
Marcellus Otero said he's learnt a lesson about speed racing and dangerous driving.Credit: Rhett Wyman The 19-year-old Canterbury-Bankstown man has also been charged with 21 counts of driving with a suspended licence, five counts of speeding by more than 30km/h and two counts of speeding by more than 20km/h.
Other charges against the P-plater, which span from November to December last year, include negligent driving and not stopping at a yellow light. They cover the suburbs of Moorebank, Hammondville, Liverpool, Ashfield, Haberfield, Miranda, Macquarie Park, Rhodes, Campsie, Strathfield South, Strathfield, Huntingwood, Bankstown and Milperra. Police say emergency services were called to a single vehicle crash on Georges River Road in the inner west suburb of Croydon Park at 9:30am on December 12.
Court documents allege Otero was speed racing and travelling 130km/h in a 60km/h zone in his Silver Subaru BRZ Coupe at the time of the crash. As part of their investigation, highway patrol officers reviewed footage obtained from CCTV and Otero's dash cam - a device police say recorded the huge number of alleged crimes.
Otero stands with a supporter outside Burwood local court on Tuesday.Credit: Rhett Wyman Speaking to journalists after a brief appearance at Burwood local court on Tuesday, Otero said he didn't know his dash cam was turned on.
Advertisement"I was like 'wow, I'm an actual idiot' ...
It just taught me not to be an idiot anymore," he said. "I'm thankful for the officers that were there. They taught me a lesson just to drive safer".
Re-telling his version of events regarding the crash, he said a woman was pulling out of her driveway and merged into the right lane. Instead of risking hitting her, he said he tried to swerve into the left lane and hit a pole. He said that during one incident, police told him there was a "lady on a pathway" who may have been "scared or in shock".
"I went through the footage with the cops and they showed me that I could have hit her," he said. "But I'm thankful I didn't hurt anyone ... and I didn't get any injuries, so I'm pretty lucky". In a frank admission, Otera said he got caught up with the manner of driving and began taking advantage of it - until he got caught and crashed, which he described as "humbling".
Asked if he would stop street racing, he said "for sure" as his focus was taking care of his students at his local church as well as his grandmother.
A 2022 Subaru BRZ Coupe, the same model Marcellus Otero was driving at excessive speed when he crashed. "Now that I've lost my licence and everything, you just appreciate driving and being close to family and friends," he told journalists. "Because I help a lot of people out, and now I can't do that".
No pleas have been entered on any of the offences. Otero told journalists "there were a lot" of charges and he would "plead guilty to some". Inside court, his matter was adjourned to January 23 due to the volume of material that still needs to be assessed.
The court heard the prosecution's case relies largely on the footage as well as a lengthy police interview with Otero following the crash.