Home and Away star Jessica Falkholt has died in hospital six days after having her life support switched off. Australian police commented on the rising road toll after the crash that resulted in the deaths of Falkholt, her sister Annabelle and their parents Lars and Vivian. / Sky News
The driver who ploughed into a Home and Away star and her family was a serial traffic offender and known drug user.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, who also died in the inferno on Boxing Day, had been jailed for driving while disqualified and was driving on P-plates having only recently got his licence back.
Witnesses have told police that they saw Whitall's white Toyota Prado drifting onto the opposite side of the Princes Highway at least twice shortly before it smashed into the Falkholt family's Mazda head-on near Sussex Inlet, the Daily Telegraph Au reports.
Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, who also died in the inferno on Boxing Day, had been jailed for driving while disqualified.
Promising actor Jessica Falkholt, 28, who had just completed her first feature film starring role, and her sister Annabelle Falkholt, 21, were clinging to life last night after suffering horrific burns in the crash that killed their father Lars Falkholt, 69, and mother Vivian Falkholt, 60.
Annabelle was still fighting for life in Liverpool Hospital on Thursday evening and Jessica is in a critical condition in St George Hospital.
Whitall, a grandfather and father of two, was "well known" to police in his hometown of Ulladulla. He has a long criminal history of more than 60 offences and a number of aliases, sources said.
Part of the coronial investigation into Tuesday's fatal crash will centre on whether Whitall was on methadone or other drugs at the time of the crash.
His son Shane Whitall, of Wollongong, praised his dad on Facebook.
"I love you with all my heart dad and will forever miss you were my hero," he posted, adding he did not care what others said about his father. "You showed me a lot in my life more than youl ever know its such a tragedy to loose you I LOVE YOU DAD RIP."
Whitall's family also said: "Our hearts are broken not only for our loss but also for the loss the Falkholt family are feeling."
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said "high-risk" drivers were not welcome on the state's roads.
The state's traffic and highway patrol commander said disqualified drivers with bad driving records featured more regularly in fatal crashes than other drivers.
He said "stupid and dangerous" decisions by drivers who are already disqualified, or who drive at reckless speeds continued to put lives at risk despite the police crackdown during Operation Safe Arrival.
Promising actor Jessica Falkholt, 28, who had just completed her first feature film starring role.
"Sadly, too many innocent people have died because of the irresponsible and reckless actions of others, and it has to stop," Corboy said.
"The community has had enough and so have we. Throughout this operation and into the new year, we will continue to target these high-risk drivers, to get them off our roads for good."
Whitall also went by the names Craig Andrew Whitall and Jamie Robert Wilson.
In July 2011, Milton Local Court sentenced him to nine months' jail with a six-month non-parole period after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified. He was banned for another two years.
He was released from jail on September 2, 2011 after a successful appeal to the District Court when his jail sentence was suspended for nine months. His driving ban was confirmed.
The state's holiday road toll stood at 21 last night after a woman died in a two-vehicle crash south of Gunning in the NSW Southern Tablelands.
A 27-year-old man was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and two counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct while driving a vehicle after a fatal crash at Walcha on December 23. The 25-year-old front seat passenger in the man's BMW died when the car allegedly hit a taxi.
The man's licence was suspended and he was given strict conditional bail to appear before Armidale Local Court on February 5, 2018.
So far this year 388 people have been killed on NSW roads, the highest number since 2009.
Annabelle Falkholt, 21, were clinging to life last night after suffering horrific burns in the crash that killed their father Lars Falkholt, 69, and mother Vivian Falkholt, 60. Photo / Channel 7
Federal opposition transport spokesman Anthony Albanese yesterday called for a government inquiry into why after years of decline the nation's road toll has increased in recent years.
"This needs an explanation and it needs a strategy of how we can return to a declining road toll," he said.
New laws introduced into NSW in October brought in automatic and minimum disqualification periods for unauthorised driving offences and anyone convicted of driving offences involving death or grievous bodily harm will never be eligible to have their disqualification lifted.
Drivers have to pass a standard knowledge and driving test to get the licence back.
"The government is always open to ideas on how to improve road safety. Any suggestions will be considered as part of the government's Road Safety Plan," a spokesman for Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said. "The lifting of the disqualification is dependent on each individual driver's case."
RAP SHEET
NAME: Craig Anthony Whitall AKA Craig Andrew Whitall AKA Jamie Robert Wilson
Milton Local Court. Sentenced to 9 months' jail with 6 months' non-parole after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified. Banned for a further two years.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 District Court Wollongong. Released from jail and his sentence is suspended for two years. Driving ban confirmed.
DECEMBER 26, 2017
Driving a Toyota Prado which crashed head-on into the car of the Falkholt family, killing himself and Lars and Vivian Falkholt. The couple's daughters Jessica and Annabelle remain in a critical condition in hospital.
