A Braybrook College student has died following a crash in Sunshine West overnight which left two young girls fighting for life.
Fifteen-year-old Newport boy, Luke Lee, died at the scene after his car struck a tree about 10pm. Another boy seriously injured in the crash is believed to be a former Sunshine College student.
Lee was driving an unregistered 1995 Holden Commodore along Oldfield Street with four teenage passengers on board when he lost control oand struck a tree opposite Sunshine Heights Primary School about 10pm, police say.
Friend Chloe posted a tribute to Lee and two Sunshine West boys, Kye Patterson and Bailey Hobbs, also injured in the crash, on facebook this morning.
“Such a heartbreaking story to hear you were taken away too soon but will never be forgotten,” she wrote.
“Kye Patterson and Bailey Hobbs pull threw (sic) this and keep fighting “.
Another friend Katelyn posted on Instagram: “No words could ever explain how much you really mean to me and how much I will miss you and forever love you, we’ve been through so much together and I’m so upset that our last words to each other was us fighting. I will never forget you and how much you have changed my life in both good and bad I love you so much baby and thank you for giving me the best year of my life.”
A 13-year-old girl from Sunbury and a 15-year-old Doreen girl sustained life-threatening injuries to the head and were taken to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.
The Sunshine West passengers- 17-year-old Patterson sitting in the front passenger seat, and 16-year-old Hobbs in the back seat – suffered serious injuries and remain in Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
Patterson sustained a broken hip, femur and head injuries in the crash.
It’s believed the two girls and one of the boys were initially trapped in the car and had to be freed with the assistance of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Doug Fryer said the crash was a mixture of inexperience and speed, creating a “recipe for disaster”.
“They’ve come round the corner and they’ve come to grief,” he told 3AW on Tuesday morning.
“It really was a recipe for disaster. We’ve got all sorts of issues with this.
“A number weren’t wearing seatbelts. Two in the rear weren’t. Nobody should have been in that car last night.”
Sunshine and Braybrook colleges have been sought for comment.
