15-year-old driver dies in horrific car crash 0:31
A teenage boy has died after the car he was driving crashed into a tree in Sunshine West overnight. His teenage passengers were injured. Source: Sunrise
A 15-year-old boy crashes car into tree, dies at Sunshine West
FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to the teenager killed in a car crash in Melbourne’s west overnight.
Luke Lee, 15, has been remembered as “happy”, “funny” and “always caring” with a “heart of gold”.
The Newport teenager died after the car he was driving crashed into a tree on Oldfield Rd in Sunshine West.
A 17-year-old Sunshine West boy, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, and a 16-year-old Sunshine West boy, who was seated in the back seat, both sustained serious injuries.
The remaining passengers, a 13-year-old Sunbury girl and a 15-year-old girl from Doreen, sustained head injuries and were taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.
Police said it was lucky all five people were not killed.
Luke’s family members attended the crash site this morning to lay flowers and cards.
Aunty Donna Pettiford said his mum Paula Pettiford was worried about Luke being out so late, but received a text message just before the crash from him telling her he was OK.
“He sent her a message not long before telling her he was fine,” Ms Pettiford said.
“She found out about 2.30am this morning when the police arrived at her door.
“He was her only son; she’s devastated.”
Ms Pettiford said Luke was a boy who loved playing footy and used to play for Albion Football Club in Sunshine, and was a mad Essendon fan
Friends of Luke paid tribute at the scene this morning, hugging and weeping as they laid flowers.
Hannah, 15, who went to school with Luke said he was “funny and always caring”.
“He always wanted to make sure everyone was OK; I’ll never forget that,” Hannah said.
“If he saw a kid who was alone, he would always make sure to go up to them and make sure they were OK.”
Another friend, Tyler, said the pair loved going to the beach together and described him as a “loving, caring boy”.
“He was true to himself, had a heart of gold, and he’s gone but not forgotten,” she said.
“He was an amazing boy.”
Another friend spoke of her shock over the incident.
“He was always so energetic and happy,” she said.
“I can’t believe this has happened — this is just shocking.”
Neighbours arrived to find a chaotic scene with four people still trapped in the car amid screaming that was “unbearable”.
Daniel Hollingworth rushed from inside his house to the crash scene after he heard a loud bang.
“I got there moments after the impact, it was horrible,” he said.
“The screaming ... it was unbearable. The scene was just chaos.”
He said one person crawled out of the car and they laid him on the nature strip as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
Police say two girls and a boy were initially trapped, and had to be freed with the assistance of the MFB.
Victoria Police acting Sergeant Trent Hewet said speed was a factor in the crash.
“At this point, it appears speed may be involved, and inexperience, obviously, 15-year-old driver without a licence,” Sgt Hewet said.
“The roadworthiness of the car was really poor, in terms of tyres.”
Sgt Hewet said the car, which was unregistered, likely belonged to a friend of the five teens.
“It’s a timely reminder that a split second decision can change your life,” he said.
“We now have a 15-year-old’s family who aren’t going to have him home for Christmas.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen the white Holden Commodore earlier in the night.
Earlier, Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Doug Fryer said inexperience, speed and some of the people not wearing seatbelts were all factors in the crash.
“It could have been five (dead) you know,” he said.
“We’ve got a young lad, a 15-year-old who is dead, we’ve still got two who are fighting for life and one of those is a 13-year-old girl.
“We’ve got five kids, there’s inexperience. We’ve got some speed there and they’ve come round a corner and they’ve come to grief.
“A number of them weren’t wearing seatbelts, but it really was a recipe for disaster.”
