Brendan Rigano killed in Bruce Highway motorcycle crash
A tight-knit Far North Queensland community is coming to grips with the loss of a well-loved motorbike rider killed on the Bruce Highway in a high-speed crash.
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A tight-knit Cassowary Coast community is coming to grips with the loss of a well-loved motorbike rider killed on the Bruce Highway in a high-speed crash.
Initial police investigations indicate a motorcycle ridden by Brendan Rigano was travelling southbound on the Bruce Highway near Mourilyan and crashed about 3pm on Sunday.
In wet conditions, it’s understood the 20-year-old came off his bike less than 3km from his Moresby home. He was declared dead at the scene.
Mr Rigano’s boss, Frank Scamnello, from Bradken Innisfail said the small team had been deeply impacted by the loss of the CNC machine operator and brazing specialist.
“It’s very sad, I feel deeply for his family, to lose a son that young it’s not supposed to happen in life,” he said.
“It would have been raining and, I’m amazed he was riding a bike in that weather, it had lots of horsepower and he was inexperienced and young.”
The keen biker and former Innisfail State College student owned a collection of motorcycles and was a passionate online gamer.
The Bradken regional sugar manager said the company would offer Mr Rigano’s family assistance through counselling support if needed.
“The impact has been pretty great on the workshop and the team, and it was a very sombre start to the day and we had a minute’s silence at our pre-start meeting, out of respect to him and him and his family,” he said.
“I have been struggling with it myself, there has not been a minute that I have not thought about him and he still should be here, he is too young to have that happen.”
Police investigations into the crash are ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have CCTV or dashcam vision that may assist with investigations are urged to come forward.
The death of Mr Rigano on Sunday was the first road fatality for the Far North district in 2023.
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Originally published as Brendan Rigano killed in Bruce Highway motorcycle crash
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