A Tamworth teenager has been killed after a tragic motorcycle accident in Aberdeen. Photo: Fairfax
A TAMWORTH teenager has died after a tragic motorcycle accident at Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon. Two other local teens survived the crash and remain in a Newcastle hospital.
Facebook tributes flowed for Year 11 Tamworth High School student Keegan Lutgerink (17) yesterday as his friends came to terms with his sudden death.
About 1.20pm on Sunday, Keegan and another 17-year-old Tamworth boy were riding a trail bike west along Graeme St in Aberdeen’s east.
It is believed a second bike, driven by a 17-year-old boy also from the Tamworth area, collided with the other bike and the two teens were thrown from the motorcycle as it hit the road.
Keegan sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
Media outlets reported that the second bike may have clipped the front of the teens’ bike while overtaking. Newcastle Crash Investigation police said the cause of the crash was still unknown.
It is believed both bikes may have been travelling at speed when the collision occurred.
Keegan’s passenger was understood to have suffered a possible fractured pelvis and walked 200 metres with the other driver, who suffered leg injuries, to tell his family what had happened before emergency services arrived.
Both survivors were flown by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to John Hunter Hospital for treatment and were believed to have been recovering there yesterday.
Keegan’s family and friends mourned on Facebook yesterday, posting “you’ll be missed by many” and “you’ll be in my heart forever”.
A Department of Education and Communities spokesman told Fairfax that it was a sad day for his school and counselling was being provided for students.
Two other people were involved in separate motorbike accidents across the north on Sunday, suffering minor injuries.
At Moree, a 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital by ambulance after crashing on a motocross circuit.
About 10.50am, the boy fell off his motorbike when he was riding on the Boolooroo Weir Rd motocross track, just north of the town.
The boy suffered an ankle injury and was taken to Moree hospital in a stable condition.
At 2.15pm, a 31-year-old man also came off his bike along the Walcha Rd near Bendemeer.
He suffered a possible broken shoulder and was taken to Tamworth hospital in a stable condition.
