Man who killed six teenagers while driving with his young son on his lap and then fled the scene walks from jail after 10 years

  • Thomas Towle killed six teenagers in hit-and-run in Cardross near Mildura
  •  He ran down the group on February 18, 2006
  • On Monday he was released from Fulham Correctional Centre
  • He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in 2008 over the accident
  • Was released on parole in 2013 before going back to jail in September 2014

By FREYA NOBLE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A man who killed six teenagers in a hit and run road crash has been released from on parole after 10 years in prison.

Thomas Towle, 45, was jailed in 2008 on charges of dangerous driving causing death after his car ploughed into a group of 13 teenagers, killing six, in Cardross near Mildura on February 18, 2006.

Towle was driving with his young son in his lap when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the teens, who were walking on a road after attending a friend's 16th birthday party.

Shortly before 8am on Monday, Towle was seen walking out of Fulham Correctional Centre. A Corrective Services spokesman confirming he'd been released on parole.

Scroll down for video 

Hit-and-run driver Thomas Towle, who killed six teenagers in 2006, has been released from jail

Hit-and-run driver Thomas Towle, who killed six teenagers in 2006, has been released from jail

Towle, 45, was released from Fulham Correctional Centre on Monday after ten years behind bars

Towle, 45, was released from Fulham Correctional Centre on Monday after ten years behind bars

Towle is seen here in 2008 ahead of his sentencing over the death of the six teenagers

Towle is seen here in 2008 ahead of his sentencing over the death of the six teenagers

Shane Hirst, 16, his 17-year-old sister Abby Hirst, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, and Cassandra Manners, Cory Dowling and Josephine Calvi, all aged 16, were killed when Towle's car hit their group

He was driving with his son on his lap when the horror crash occurred

He was driving with his son on his lap when the horror crash occurred

Towle was freed in June 2013 after winning early release for good behaviour, but was taken back thrown back in jail last September for a breaching his parole conditions.

A Bendigo pub worker told AAP in September he saw Towle drinking in the hotel on a number of occasions.

The worker said he emailed a former member of the Adult Parole Board in October 2014 that Towle was breaching his parole conditions by drinking at his pub.

Towle's sentence was due to expire in September 2017, after being cut by eight months by the Adult Parole Board.

Pictured here a few days after the crash, Towle was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in 2008

Pictured here a few days after the crash, Towle was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in 2008

His release on Monday was due to a successful parole application

His release on Monday was due to a successful parole application

Towle was pictured leaving the correctional facility with a female shortly before 8am on Monday, May 16

Here Towle was being taken from a holding cell at Mildura Police station to stand before a magistrate at Mildura Court on February 20, 2006

Here Towle was being taken from a holding cell at Mildura Police station to stand before a magistrate at Mildura Court on February 20, 2006

His release on Monday was due to a successful parole application.

Shane Hirst, 16, his 17-year-old sister Abby Hirst, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, and Cassandra Manners, Cory Dowling and Josephine Calvi, all aged 16, were killed when Towle's car hit their group in 2006.

Towle fled the scene, leaving his injured pre-schooler son in the car, before later handing himself in to police. 

Carmel Calvi, mother of Josephine Calvi who was killed during the crash talks to media in 2008

Carmel Calvi, mother of Josephine Calvi who was killed during the crash talks to media in 2008

Another family member is pictured here leaving Melbourne Supreme Court in March 2008

Another family member is pictured here leaving Melbourne Supreme Court in March 2008

 Pictured is a memorial for the teenagers who died in the 2006 crash

 Pictured is a memorial for the teenagers who died in the 2006 crash

Towle's sentence was due to expire in September 2017, but he was let out early after a successful parole

Towle's sentence was due to expire in September 2017, but he was let out early after a successful parole

 

Most watched News videos