ON MONDAY, a 17-year-old from Wilberforce died when the vehicle he was driving collided with a table-top truck on Wilberforce Road, Wilberforce, in the early hours of morning.
The young man, who was yet to be formally named by police as at the time of going to press, is believed to be a well-known Nor-West Jets 18s star described as ‘‘a great young man” and a “terrific footballer.”
Police said the teenager was driving a Mitsubishi Utility south on Wilberforce Road at about 5.30am when it crossed onto the incorrect side of the road, in the vicinity of the old shed known as the Orange Spot, and collided into the side of an oncoming truck travelling in the opposite direction.
Police said the ute hit the rear wheels of the truck causing the vehicle to spin out of control before it came to rest in the south bound lane.
The Gazette understands Emergency Service crews worked to free the teenager who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, from the wreckage.
He was rushed to Hawkesbury Hospital in a critical condition where he later died.
Police said the male truck driver and his passenger were uninjured and further investigations into the incident are continuing.
Today, family, friends and the public continue to lay floral tributes at the crash site.
The Gazette will publish more details in a tribute piece in next week’s edition.