Driver Jailed for 11.5 Years Over Street Race Crash That Killed Two Boys in Sydney’s South

Incident Overview
A tragic street race crash in Sydney’s south has resulted in the deaths of two young boys and left a third child injured. The driver, Jimmy Martin Brito , was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter by criminal negligence and one count of causing bodily harm. The crash occurred in August 2023 on The Grand Parade between Botany and Monterey, where Brito’s Subaru Impreza reached speeds of up to 140 km/h while racing against an Audi. Brito, 34, will be eligible for parole in February 2031 after serving a non-parole period of eight years .

The case highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving and street racing, particularly when children are involved. The sentencing judge described the crash as a “sheer utter destruction” and noted it was “a miracle that only two people died.”

Location and Time
The crash occurred on The Grand Parade in Monterey, a suburb in Sydney’s south, during the night in August 2023 . The high-speed street race covered a total distance of approximately 8 kilometers , with the fatal collision happening near a slight right-hand bend where Brito’s vehicle veered off the road and slammed into a tree.

Vehicles Involved
The crash involved two vehicles:

• A **Subaru Impreza** driven by Jimmy Brito, carrying three children—two boys aged nine and ten, and a young girl.
• An **Audi**, allegedly driven by Adam Yurun, who is accused of participating in the street race. Yurun has pleaded not guilty to charges including aiding or abetting manslaughter and will face trial in August 2023.

Brito’s Subaru Impreza was traveling at speeds exceeding 140 km/h during the race, which ultimately led to the loss of control and the fatal crash.

Crash Description
According to court documents and agreed facts, Brito and the Audi driver engaged in an “ad hoc” street race over a distance of about 8 kilometers , with the race occurring intermittently. Mobile phone videos taken by one of the children inside Brito’s car captured parts of the race, including the moments leading up to the crash.

In the final moments, Brito overtook the Audi at high speed on The Grand Parade. Shortly afterward, his Subaru came off the road following a slight right-hand bend, slamming into a tree with catastrophic force. The impact killed two boys, aged nine and ten, and left the young girl seriously injured but alive. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the boys were pronounced dead shortly after.

Judge John Pickering described the crash site as a scene of “sheer utter destruction,” emphasizing the severity of the collision and the vulnerability of the children, who were entirely reliant on Brito to drive responsibly.

Injuries/Fatalities

• Two boys, aged nine and ten, tragically died at the scene.
• The third passenger, a young girl, sustained serious injuries but survived.

No other individuals were injured in the crash.

Emergency Response
Emergency services, including paramedics and police, responded promptly to the scene after receiving reports of the crash. Paramedics worked to stabilize the injured girl and transport her to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, the two boys could not be revived and were pronounced dead at the scene. Police secured the area and conducted a thorough investigation, examining skid marks, vehicle damage, and witness statements to piece together the events leading up to the crash.

Forensic investigators also reviewed mobile phone footage taken by one of the children, which provided critical evidence of the street race and the moments before the crash.

Community Impact
The deaths of the two boys have deeply affected their family and the broader community. In a victim impact statement, the boys’ father and stepmother described the unimaginable pain of identifying their children in the hospital and visiting the crash site.

“Every weekend is a visit to the cemetery,” they wrote, emphasizing the profound grief and trauma caused by the crash. They expressed anger and disbelief that Brito had placed the children’s lives in such grave danger, noting that the boys trusted him to drive responsibly.

Flowers were left at the crash site on The Grand Parade as a tribute to the young victims, highlighting the community’s sorrow and solidarity with the grieving family.

Investigation and Sentencing
The Forensic Crash Unit conducted a detailed investigation into the crash, focusing on several key areas:

• The actions of both drivers leading up to the crash, including their speeds and adherence to road rules.
• Potential contributing factors such as distraction, recklessness, or peer pressure during the street race.
• Road conditions and visibility at the time of the crash.

During sentencing, Judge John Pickering condemned Brito’s behavior, stating that he had “truly abandoned his responsibility as a driver” and acted in a “show-off, competitive fashion.” He emphasized the vulnerability of the children, who lacked the ability to understand the risks of such reckless driving.

Brito received a 25% discount on his sentence for his guilty plea and an additional 10% discount for agreeing to testify in the upcoming trial of Adam Yurun, the alleged Audi driver.

Contributing Factors
While the investigation is ongoing, potential contributing factors include:

• Excessive speed, with Brito’s Subaru reaching up to 140 km/h in a residential area.
• Reckless and competitive behavior during the street race, prioritizing speed over safety.
• Poor judgment and lack of responsibility as a driver, particularly given the presence of children in the vehicle.
• Road conditions or environmental factors, such as the slight right-hand bend where the crash occurred.