Friends are mourning the loss of a ‘‘sweet’’ and ‘‘caring’’ teenager who was tragically killed when his friend’s p-plate Holden Commodore slammed into a tree early yesterday morning.
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Tyson Gavin, 17, was riding in the back seat of the Commodore as it travelled north along Eggleston Crescent in Chifley about 12.55am.
The car, which was carrying four teenagers, lost control, jumped a gutter and smashed into a large tree near the McDonald Street intersection.
The rear left hand side, where Tyson was sitting, took the brunt of the impact.He died at the scene, despite frantic attempts by emergency services to save his young life.
The 17-year-old driver of the Commodore, who friends say is ‘‘torn up’’ by the crash, is expected to be summonsed to the ACT Childrens Court on serious driving offences.
Friends gathered near the tree on Eggleston Crescent yesterday, laying flowers, setting up a cross, and leaving messages and a football jumper in tribute.
Tyson was remembered as a promising young rugby league player with the Woden Valley Rams, where he played over 100 games since he joined in under 9’s.
The teenager hoped to turn his passion into a professional career with the Raiders.His teammates gathered for a sombre, subdued training session last night, something Rams club president James Gildea said was upsetting to see.
‘‘None of them really knew how to feel, it’s still a bit early and a bit raw,’’ Mr Gildea said.
‘‘I don’t think the emotion is really starting to show, but in the next couple of days it’s going to be very, very difficult.’’
Madison Boddy and Karley Gill, both 17, spent four years with Tyson at Stromlo High School.
They were part of a large group of friends who gathered at the crash scene yesterday to remember a popular, friendly teenager, who ‘‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’’.
Tyson was preparing to start the next school term at Canberra College after taking time out to work.Police say alcohol wasn’t involved in the crash, and it is still unclear whether speed was a factor.
One of the other passengers was still in hospital yesterday afternoon, while a fourth was discharged, reportedly suffering from whiplash.
Ms Boddy said the three boys were all in shock.‘‘Especially the driver, he’s pretty bad, torn up about it all,’’ she said.
A man identifying himself as the father of one of the car’s passengers told local radio yesterday morning that a private security vehicle had been involved in the crash, and had fled the scene.
Sergeant Rod Anderson said police did not believe a second car contributed to the crash, but would investigate the reports.
Crash investigators with the Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Team analysed tyre marks to determine the car’s speed.
Investigators were forced to wait for better light to finalise analysis of the scene, forcing an extended closure of Eggleston Crescent yesterday morning.
The crash occurred in a residential road, just a short distance from nearby homes.
Sergeant Anderson said other motorists witnessed the crash and were assisting police.The death is the sixth on ACT roads this year.
It comes just over a month since a motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a ute on the Orroral Road in the Orroral Valley.
‘‘This is a tragic incident, another fatality on the ACT roads,’’ Sergeant Anderson said.
