By Jesse Graham
UPDATE: Monday, 17 August
YARRA Glen Football Netball Club is mourning one of their young players this week, after a car rollover on Sunday claimed the life of 16-year-old Cooper Ratten.
Cooper was the rear passenger in a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan that veered off of Glenview Road in Yarra Glen and rolled, just after 3am on Sunday 16 August, in foggy conditions.
Emergency services were called out to the crash, but Cooper, who received life-threatening injuries in the crash, died on the way to hospital.
Yarra Glen Football Netball Club president, Vincent Erickson, told the Mail that he and more than 120 others went to the clubrooms on the Sunday, to mourn the under-18s player who had helped his team win against Wandin only a day earlier.
He said the teenager, who recently-joined the club, was a “key position” player and described him as a “natural athlete”.
“He had a good set of hands, he was a good mark,” Mr Erickson said.
“Basically, he’d come from fairly good breeding – some of it’s going to filter through, definitely.
“It’s a loss to the club and a big loss to his team – and now they have to go into the finals without Cooper being there.
“It’s going to be tough for them on the field, that’s for sure, and even tougher off of the field.”
Cooper was the son of Hawthorn assistant coach and former Carlton coach Brett Ratten, who grew up in Yarra Glen and also played with the club.
Mr Ratten wrote a heartfelt tribute to his son in Monday’s Herald Sun, where he said his son had been “taken away too soon”.
“You will be with us every minute of every day,” the tribute read.
“You had so much potential and ability in the things you set your mind to.
“We will miss your smile, your laugh and all your cheekiness.
“I love you, my son. We love you so much always and forever.”
The car was being driven by a 17-year-old Healesville boy, who was taken to Box Hill Hospital under police guard and was then moved to The Alfred hospital.
The front passenger in the car, a 17-year-old Yarra Glen boy, was taken to Maroondah Hospital and has since been discharged.
Both of the other boys were Yarra Glen footballers, and the trio had been at a football function earlier in the night and dropped at home by the club’s courtesy bus.
Mr Erickson said the club had strict policies to prevent underage members drinking, and that the three were dropped at a home at 12.30am – two-and-a-half hours before the crash.
Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU) Detective Sergeant David Yeoman said that police were investigating the circumstances of the crash, but confirmed that speed, drugs and alcohol were factors.
“The posted speed limit is 80km/h – we’re saying the car was well in excess off 100km/h,” Det Sgt Yeoman said.
He said that Cooper was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and was thrown 40 metres from the vehicle when it rolled.
Det Sgt Yeoman said the car involved in the crash had been reported stolen, and that the driver, who was too young to hold a probationary licence, was an “unaccompanied learner”, or a learner driver travelling without a fully-licensed supervising driver.
He said the road was a “typical secondary country road”, which he described as “badly cambered”.
“(It’s) A little bit like sitting on top of a ball,” Det Sgt Yeoman said.
“It’s not a particularly bad road if you’re sitting on the speed limit and driving to the conditions.
“(But) You can be going too fast at 40km/h if the conditions are not right, and that’s exactly what happened – they were driving outside of the conditions and it has had tragic consequences.”
Det Sgt Yeoman said there was no longer a police guard for the driver, but that police were expecting to lay charges against the 17-year-old driver, including culpable driving, drink and drug driving and theft of a motor vehicle.
Hawthorn and Carlton football clubs, along with many local clubs, have paid their respects to the Ratten family in statements released online.
On Glenview Road on Monday morning, a bouquet of yellow flowers sat in the middle of a patch of torn-up earth, surrounded by pieces of plastic scattered in the crash.
Anyone who may have information on the crash, or who witnessed the incident, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Sunday, 16 August: 2.50pm.
A TEENAGER has died and another has been taken into police custody following a fatal crash this morning in Yarra Glen.
Police believe that a car, driven by a 17-year-old Healesville boy, was travelling along Glenview Road in Yarra Glen at 3am on Sunday, 16 August, when the it veered off of the road and rolled.
The rear passenger, 16-year-old Cooper Ratten, received life-threatening injuries in the crash, and died on the way to hospital.
Cooper, a member of the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club, was son to Hawthorn Football Club’s Assistant Coach, Brett Ratten.
The club posted a statement on its website earlier today, expressing their “deepest condolences” to the Ratten family.
“We are shocked and saddened by the passing of his beloved son Cooper, whose life has been cut short in tragic circumstances,” the statement read.
“The club’s primary focus will be supporting Brett and his family during this devastating time.
“We ask that you continue to keep Brett and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
The front passenger of the car, a 17-year-old Yarra Glen boy, was taken to Maroondah Hospital with minor injuries, while the driver was taken to Box Hill Hospital with a police guard.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have been at the scene of the crash through the morning, investigating the circumstances.
All three of the boys are members of the Yarra Glen FNC’s Under 18s team.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who has information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
