Zane, 18, was branded a killer and his parents targeted as they buried their boy... but now there's been a stunning about-face on who was to blame for fatal car crash
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A devastated family have been horrified to discover their dead teenage son may have been falsely branded a killer after his death in a double-fatality car crash.
Zane Oldis, 18, and his mate Taj Patten-McLaren, 15, died when a Ford Falcon they were in slammed into a tree near Orbost, in east Gippsland, Victoria, just after midnight on June 10.
A third teenager, who escaped from the crash with minor injuries, initially told police that Zane had been driving the vehicle.
But in a surprise move four months later, police arrested the third teenager and now allege he was actually driving and caused the crash.
Until now Zane's parents, Meagan and Jake Oldis, had carried the guilt of believing their son was to blame for the tragedy that tore through their close-knit town.
They have been ruthlessly targeted online, labelled 'bad parents' and told to 'take responsibility' for the crash.
'It was awful after the accident because they had to see all those comments blaming them,' a family friend told the Daily Mail.
'They were trying to grieve while believing their son had killed another young boy.'
Zane Oldis, 18, (pictured) was initially said to be behind the wheel when a Ford Falcon slammed into a tree
Zane and his best mate Taj Patten-McLaren were killed instantly in the crash
Friends of both boys paid tribute to them at the scene of the accident
When emergency services arrived at the scene, Zane was found lying on the ground beside the wreck, while Taj was trapped in the back seat.
Both boys died instantly.
The surviving teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly told paramedics he had drunk 'five Bundy and Cokes' but blamed Zane for the crash.
However, forensic analysis is now alleged to have revealed that Zane was in the passenger seat when the car smashed into the tree at 130km/h.
Last Tuesday, police charged the 15-year-old with two counts of culpable driving causing death, two counts of dangerous driving causing death, as well as driving an unregistered vehicle and unlicensed driving.
At a Children's Court appearance the following day, police alleged he had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.091 and cannabis in his system at the time of the crash.
In the days after the tragedy, friends gathered at the crash site to lay flowers, light candles and share memories of the two best mates.
But friends say Zane's family struggled with the public attention.
Forensic analysis later alleges Zane was in the passenger seat at the time of the crash
Mr Patten-McLaren's family held a public funeral at the local golf club
While Mr Patten-McLaren's family held a public funeral at the local Orbost Golf Club, welcoming the wider community, Mr Oldis' parents chose to grieve privately with a closed ceremony.
'Nothing is worse than losing your child, but they also felt terrible about how it happened,' a friend said.
'Even when a GoFundMe was set up to help both families with the costs of funerals, Zane's dad didn't feel right accepting it because of the guilt.'
The accused teenage boy was granted bail to allow him to spend Christmas at home with his parents ahead of committal proceedings in January.
'What kind of Christmas will that be for the victims' families, having to see him in town?' one friend told the Daily Mail.
'Not just Zane's family, who just want justice for him now, but also Taj's family too.
'Taj's mum Bianca is a mess. It's a lot to go through and they had a sense of closure but now it's all being brought back up again.'
In the days after the tragedy, friends gathered at the crash site to lay flowers
A fundraiser launched in the wake of the crash has since raised more than $20,000, with organiser Julie Wilson describing the loss as 'an unimaginable void in the hearts of family, friends and all who knew them'.
At the time of his death, Zane's mother Meagan said her son was 'my co-pilot in adventures, my constant'.
'He was a kind, gentle soul who loved life and cared for country,' she said. 'He put a smile on everyone's faces the moment he walked into a room.
'He loved fishing, camping, cars, he was a big boy's boy who adored his mates.'
The fundraiser paid tribute to the 'best mates,' describing Zane as a hard-working young fisherman with a bright future ahead and Taj as a spirited student full of life and promise.
'Their sudden passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of family, friends and all that knew them.'
Friends also remembered Taj as 'the funny one' who always made people laugh. 'Best mates gone, come back, boys,' one friend wrote online.
'Fly high, loved forever and always,' said another.
