‘We tried to save him’: Motorcyclist killed in Edinburgh crash
A group of workers has told of their desperate attempt to revive an 18-year-old motorcyclist who crashed into the back of a truck at Edinburgh, only to witness the young rider take his final breaths.
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An 18-year-old motorcyclist who crashed into the back of a truck at Edinburgh has died, despite witnesses at the scene doing all they could to revive the young driver.
Grant and Sons Engineering workers performed CPR on the Andrews Farm man just seconds after the crash on Woomera Ave about 8.45am on Wednesday.
“The fella was laying there, he was in pretty bad shape at the time,” supervisor Gareth Scott said.
“When we first got there he was kind of struggling to breathe. Short bursts and it just got fewer and fewer.
“And then that was it. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t tell if he was aware we were there or not (but) his eyes were open.”
Mr Scott, 36, said he used his jacket to support the rider’s neck and open his airways but it was too late. He died at the scene.
“Our driver was (turning) into the yard (from Woomera Ave) doing his normal thing,” he said.
“And he heard a noise or a thud and it happened to be the guy running into the back of him.”
The bike slid about 50m after impact. Harrowing audio captured from a nearby CCTV camera revealed the bike – which had been lent to the rider by a friend – tried to slow down a second before the crash.
Friends of the rider arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning concerned for the welfare of their mate who hadn’t turned up to work.
A group of people gathered about 100m from the site while Major Crash investigators examined the scene. The group identified the red motorcycle as the same one lent to their friend. They were too distraught to comment.
Dozens of friends visited Woomera Ave on Wednesday afternoon to pay tribute to the rider.
“He was always goofy, funny, making people laugh,” one woman said.
“He always took care people. He always put other people before himself. It’s sad to see him go. He’ll be missed by everyone.”
The woman said he “loved motorbikes” and was “close to everyone”
Mr Scott said he wasn’t sure how to feel after the man’s death.
“I knew he was young. I feel terrible for him and his family and all his loved ones. It’s shocking,” he said.
The truck driver, a 59-year-old Hillbank man, was taken to hospital as a precaution. Mr Scott described him as a “good man” and “experienced driver”.
The rider is the 12th motorcyclist and 57th life lost on SA roads this year, compared to 65 at the same time in 2019.