The Yerong Creek community is in mourning after a school holidays camping trip claimed the life of a teenage boy.
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Police said a Toyota HiLux utility containing three teenage boys were on a property about 10.45am on Thursday when it rolled.
Two teenage boys were ejected from the vehicle.
One of the boys ejected, aged 14, died at the scene.
The two other teenagers, aged 13 and 14, sustained minor injuries and were taken to Wagga Base Hospital in a stable condition.
Wagga Police Detective Inspector Darren Cloake said the utility landed on top of one of the ejected teenagers, resulting in his death.
“The exact details are yet to be determined, but I can say that there were two vehicles travelling in a convoy – they were trying to negotiate a hill,” he said.
“At this stage, it’s early – it’s a shocking tragedy.
“For reasons yet to be determined, the vehicle containing two males in the rear tray and a 14-year-old male drive basically fallen foul of the track, which resulted in the utility turning over.”
The other vehicle, which was in front at the time, contained four teenage boys.
Detective Inspector Cloake said the teenagers were driving on private land with “full consent and permission of the landowner”.
“It appears a group of young friends were making good of their school holiday and camping overnight,” he said.
“We’re almost at the end of school holiday and we do know that these young lads were part of a wider community in the Yerong Creek area.
“From all accounts, they are heavily involved in the local football team.
“Certainly, the loss of any young life is a tragedy.
“Our hearts and wishes go out to their extended families and friends.”
Asked whether police would seek to lay charges, Detective Inspector Cloake said it was “still too early to tell”.
“That’s a determination to be made by the Crash Investigation Unit,” he said.
“We’ll examine all the factors, including the topography they were trying to navigate.”
The accident will have a profound effect on the community for some years to come – it’s a tragedy that we wish we could’ve done more.
- Eamon Purcell, manager of the Murrumbidgee District Ambulance
Murrumbidgee District Ambulance manager Eamon Purcell said three ambulances and two helicopters responded to the incident.
“We were there for just under an hour,” Mr Purcell said.
“We called the helicopters off because the other two males with minor injuries didn’t require it.”
He said the incident was a tragedy for the whole community.
“The accident will have a profound effect on the community for some years to come – it’s a tragedy that we wish we could’ve done more,” Mr Purcell said.
As of 8.30am today, a spokesperson at the Murrumbidgee Local Health District said the 13-year-old male was discharged yesterday afternoon and the 14-year-old is expected to be discharged today.
the two males, aged 13 and 14, transported to Wagga Base Hospital were in stable condition.
Fire and Rescue NSW also attended.
Officers from the NSW Police crash investigation unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash were expected to be at the scene through Thursday evening.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.