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Charge over crash tragedy

An 18-year-old man will face court after being charged with causing the crash which claimed the life of his pregnant fiance.

Police will allege Alex Riley was driving the Mitsubishi Lancer when it failed to take a bend on Brookton Highway, 20km west of Brookton, and hit a tree at 7.40am on February 24 this year.

Shona Leigh Caley, 19, and her unborn baby died in the crash.

The young couple had only recently become engaged and had celebrated the impending birth of a daughter with a baby shower just two days before the crash.

They had been in Perth the previous night and left at 6am because Mr Riley wanted to return home to Corrigin for a work shift.

The aftermath of the crash which claimed the life of Shona Leigh Caley, 19, and her unborn daughter.


After the crash Ms Caley's mother, Jen Higgins, paid tribute to her daughter and expressed sympathy towards Mr Riley.

“I feel for him so strongly, ” she said.

“I know what I’m feeling but I can’t imagine what he’s feeling.

“He was trying his hardest and he loved her with all his heart and he would never intentionally have harmed her.

“It’s just a tragic, horrible accident and it can’t be changed, unfortunately.”

Mr Riley has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, following an investigation by police major crash squad officers.

He is due to appear in Narrogin Magistrates Court on June 3.