Riley Wells: Roma community pays tribute to little boy, 6, tragically killed in Carnarvon Highway crash

‘A really lovely kid’: Family and friends have remembered a young boy tragically killed in a truck and car collision last week for his love of country life and spirit. Here’s how his devastated community will pay tribute:

The small and tight-knit Roma community has pulled together to mourn the tragic loss of six-year-old Riley Wells, who was killed in a horror highway crash last week.

Riley was one of the passengers in a car that rolled on the Carnarvon Highway near Injune at about 2.15am on Thursday, and was still in the vehicle when it was struck by a road train driving in the other direction.

He was assessed by paramedics for critical head injuries, but the little boy sadly died at the scene.

The loss of such a young life has sent shockwaves across the region, with the heartbroken Roma community uniting to support little Riley’s family and pay tribute to his memory.

Family friend Lynette Goodworth said she was devastated by the news of Riley’s tragic death and its impact on his family.

“I knew how hard it would hit his family,” she said.

“Riley was a really lovely kid.

“He loved his brothers, he loved pigging with his dad, fishing and shooting. He was a real country kid and loved all the stuff that kids do out here in Roma.”

Six-year-old Roma boy Riley Wells (right) died after the ute he was travelling in rolled and was struck by a road train on the Carnarvon Highway at Injune on Thursday, January 6, 2022. A charity ride has been organised to support his parents, Ian Wells and Shanowahh Dennis.

Ms Goodworth said she was driven to help Riley’s family cope with the heartbreaking loss in some way, and so kickstarted the Ride for Riley charity event.

“The first thought that came to me was that I should organise a ride,” she said.

“I posted the flyer on Facebook and it exploded.”

The ride will start at the Liberty service station at 10am on Saturday and take participants to the Mucka Pub, then loop back to Roma for a barbecue at the Ironbark Raceway.

A Roma butcher has donated sausages and bread for a sausage sizzle and Ms Goodworth will draw a raffle, which is stacked with prizes donated by local businesses.

“We’ll do some burnouts at the raceway, because Riley loved them (sic) burnouts and cars,” she said.

Participants are invited to join the ride with a bike, truck, or car, and all money raised will be donated to Riley’s family.

“Riley loved motorcycles and we’ll display his favourite colours, which were green and orange,” Ms Goodworth said.

“I want to raise as much as I can, I have not had a goal. My main focus is giving Riley’s family time to grieve without having to worry about all those expenses.”

The Ride for Riley event will finish up at Ironbark Raceway, where drivers will pay tribute to the six-year-old by performing some of his favourite stunts. Picture: file

Fellow resident Jake Volz encouraged all those involved to go one step further to pay special tribute to Riley by celebrating a few of the things most special to the boy.

“Riley’s favourite colours were orange (and) green, and his favourite animal was a dog,” Mr Volz said.

“If you want to be a part of this ride ... I ask that we wear or display Riley’s favourite colour or animal.”

Roma cafe The Tasting Co shared on social media that $1 from every coffee sold on Tuesday would be donated towards Riley’s family, along with regular cash or EFTPOS donations and a raffle to help raise even more funds.

Kymberley Scotney joined dozens of Roma locals and business owners in asking members of the community to show their support for Riley and his family by donating or taking part in the Ride for Riley event.

“A beautiful young, loving mother and father and two young brothers are left with such heartache,” she wrote.

She said that while funeral arrangements were yet to be finalised, anyone attending was encouraged to swap out the typical black outfits for something unique to Riley.

“We haven’t worked out the date yet, but would appreciate (it) if everyone who wanted to come (could) wear pigging shirts for him,” she said.

The team at Roma Outdoors and Sports is working to push through a bulk order to enable everyone who wishes to attend Riley’s service to be kitted out.

Entry in the Ride for Riley event is $20 per person. Click here for more information.