Bells Line of Road crash: Lachlan Burleigh named as first victim of triple tragedy
LACHLAN Burleigh, 17, Ben Sawyer, 19, and Luke Shanahan, 21, were sitting in the back seat of a 4WD when it spun out of control in the Blue Mountains, killing them all.
WHEN Lachlan Burleigh didn’t return from a weekend away with mates in time for work on Sunday, his mother thought he might have called in sick.
But hours later — after hearing about a fatal crash in the Blue Mountains and still not having heard from the 17-year-old — the Burleighs were worried.
By 1am on Monday their worst fears were confirmed when police told them the Oxford Falls Grammar student had died with two friends in a horror crash on the Bells Line Of Road at Bilpin.
Ben Sawyer, 19, and Luke Shanahan, 21, also died when the Mitsubishi Outlander in which they were back seat passengers, with Lachlan, spun out of control and hit a Subaru Imprezza.
The rear driver’s side of the Outlander bore the brunt of the impact.
P-plate driver Jordan Brown, 20, and front seat passenger Daniel Richards, 19, suffered minor injuries and remain in Westmead Hospital. The group had been at a dance festival near Lithgow.
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Police said the car lost control coming around a right-hand bend.
The driver of the Impreza, Barbara McLaren, 85, yesterday underwent surgery for a fractured ankle.
Lachlan Burleigh’s cousin Kellie Turner said she was having dinner with his mother Deborah on Sunday night.
“Deb had said ‘Lach was due at 4 o’clock today for work. We are a little bit worried. We just thought he may have called in sick’. Then she spoke to her husband, who said there had been a car crash. She said all the roads were closed and he must be stuck in traffic and have no reception,” she said.
“When he did not come home and the traffic had cleared his dad was calling the police to find out the names of the fatalities. Then the police knocked on their door at one in the morning.”
Ms Turner said the Warriewood teen was a keen surfer and rugby player.
“He was one of those kids that was so care free and easy going that he had that vibe that people just wanted to gravitate to him. He was so loving and caring of anyone,” she said.
“He wanted to be a marine biologist and was going to uni in 2017 to live there to pursue his dream.”
Oxford Falls Grammar headmaster Geoff Fouracre said the loss was compounded by Lachlan’s mother working as a nurse at the school and his aunt being a teacher.
“He was loved and adored by the teachers many of whom have known him his whole life,” he said.
“He was known as a happy go lucky student who enjoyed life to the full. His love was the ocean and the surf. The students have planned a special memorial for Lachlan at our graduation in a couple of weeks.”
Tim Stanton, a close friend of Luke Shanahan, posted a tribute photo collage on Facebook: “Wish I could wake up and this was all a bad dream. Still can’t comprehend your gone, thanks for the good times and being a legend.’’
Friends of Ben Sawyer, who lived in Freshwater and was known as “Nugsy”, also posted tributes.
“One of the greatest best blokes I know, I love you so much nugsy,” Liam Kenny wrote.
Peter McLaren, who runs the Ararat Lodge in the Upper Blue Mountains with his wife Barbara, said she was in shock.
“She doesn’t know what happened with the other car. All she knew was it was coming at her,” he said.
Daughter Jane McLaren said it would a long road to recovery.
“It’s a bit of a shock when you get a call that your mum’s been in an accident. We are thankful she is alive. Because of her age it’s a long healing process but we are just happy she made it,” she said.
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