Family and friends of a 16-year-old boy killed in a ute crash on the northern beaches have begun to gather at the site to mourn, comfort each other and lay flowers.
Earlier, sShocked witnesses have described the horror moment a ute carrying six teens slammed into a tree on the northern beaches overnight, killing one.
One of the first locals to call emergency services in Bayview in the early hours told the Saturday Telegraph of the chaos that took hold on their normally quiet, leafy street.
“It was all quiet and then there was a huge bang, two bangs,” they said.
“And then we heard him screaming for help. Like ‘help, help’.
“One got out of the car and was withering on the side of the road, another did the same and one boy was unconscious stuck in the car. That poor boy. He was so pale.”
The 16-year-old who died was travelling in the front-passenger seat of the Toyota HiLux, police said.
A 17-year-old red P-plate driver was flown to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical but stable condition while four boys travelling in the back seat — one aged 16 and three aged 17 — remain in Royal North Shore Hospital.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said several cars drove past the boys before one stopped to help.
“He stayed with them right until the very end.”
The crash site in Cabbage Tree Rd was the scene of another fatal accident 20 years ago in which two teens died.
Northern Beaches Police commander Pat Sharkey said that the 17 year-old driver, or any of the other injured passengers, was yet to be interviewed by police.
But Superintendent Sharkey confirmed that the issues of speed, road conditions, and if alcohol or drugs were involved would form part of the investigation by the police Crash Investigation Unit.
“It’s very early days … all of those factors have yet to be identified,” he said.
“I wouldn’t suggest that specifically that the piece of road is any more dangerous than any other piece of road on the northern beaches.”
Supt Sharkey said there were five seat belts in the ute that was carrying the six teens.
He said emergency services were confronted by a chaotic and traumatic scene.
“It appears that two of the occupants had been ejected from the vehicle.”
All the boys lived in various suburbs on the northern beaches, but primarily on the northern end of the peninsula.
The injuries suffered by the teens ranged from serious crush injuries to the chest to fractures.
“We don’t believe there are any further life threatening injuries at this stage.” Supt. Sharkey said
A suggestion that the vehicle may have been leaving a party in the area will be part of the investigation of the incident.
“We believe they were all friends, which certainly makes it more difficult for the families.”
Supt. Sharkey appealed to any witnesses to contact Northern Beaches Police.
He also urged drivers, especially young and inexperienced drivers, to be more careful on the road.
“Drive with due care and consideration of the road conditions at the time.
“This is why we give these messages about driving safely and driving to avoid tragedies like this.
“There was rain last night, the road may have been wet.”
