Goonellabah teen Riley Martin dies in crash near Casino

‘My baby boy isn‘t coming home from work today’: The sudden death of Goonellabah teenager Riley Martin shatters his family and friends.

A “lovely child” who had come out of his shell since starting his first job and buying his own motorcycle has been stolen away by a crash that has left his family and friends shattered.

Goonellabah’s Riley Martin‘s Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle hit a divot and threw him into the path of an oncoming vehicle on Spring Grove Road, near Casino on Friday.

He died at the scene.

He was 17, worked at Casino Meatworks and due to graduate Richmond River High School later this year.

Riley Martin, 17, of Goonellabah died in a accident on his way home from his first job.

“He loved gaming.”

Riley has been described as a kind, generous, cheeky, fun-loving, and easy going young man.

An avid online gamer known as “Bluey”, Riley had friends around the world who he met via the online PlayStation community.

Riley’s mum Hope Fennell said he’d get on the PlayStation and play with friends from all over the world.

Riley adored his family, his pets and his job.

Ms Fennell said when Riley was 14, all he wanted was a job.

“Riley didn’t make a lot of friends at school,” she said.

“He isolated himself at home, he was quiet and didn’t go anywhere.”

Left, front row: Mum, Hope Fennell, brother Luke Martin, and Riley Martin. Back row: Brother Josh Martin and Dad Matthew Martin.

First job

Things turned around for Riley when he secured a job with the meatworks.

“When he got the job at the Meatworks, he was rapt,” Ms Fennell said.

“He loved it.

“Because Riley was in the ED room, and he got a job through the school they classed him as a work placement.

“He only had to attend school one day a week so he could still work, then when Covid and the flood hit, he only had two more classes to attend.

“They’d sign him off then because he doesn’t have to do his HSC, but he’ll still get his Year 12 Certificate.”

Riley’s dad, Matthew Martin, said his son loved everything, especially his job where he had started in packing and was soon moved to the boning room.

“He’d just bought himself a steel and a set of knives,” Mr Martin said.

“He had such a bright future.

“He was such a lovely child.”

Mr Martin said no one had a bad thing to say about him.

“He had such a kind and generous nature,” he said.

New-found independence

As Riley didn’t have his licence, Ms Fennell used to hop out of bed at 3.30am every day to wake him up and drive him to work.

“Once he got into the work community and he met some lovely young guys from the meatworks who had motorbikes, he was keen to get a motorbike too,” Ms Fennell said.

“He was saving his money to buy a motorbike – all he wanted was the motorbike.

“He saved up to buy it and when he got the motorbike the smile on his face just grew larger.

“He went and got his licence and he’d go to Casino every day to meet up with his mates and they’d go for a ride.”

Often the group would ride to Byron Bay, meeting at the Byron lookout.

His brothers Josh and Lukus are gutted their “baby bro” won’t be around.

The family was to celebrate Lukus’s 21st birthday on the Saturday.

Lukus posted on social media: “I love you little brother, fly high up there do me proud and I’ll do you proud.”

Riley’s dad wrote: “Miss you my youngest man, so many memories to cherish.”

Brothers Riley, Josh and Lukus Martin

Riley was on his way home from work in Casino on Friday and had told his mum he was riding along Spring Grove Road because of roadworks on the Bruxner Highway.

Ms Fennell was concerned about potholes on the back road where her son had hit one recently.

“It had really scared him,” she said.

“He didn’t ride his bike for about four days then he said ‘Mum, I hit it [pothole]’ and it shook me up a bit’.

“He got a fright out of it.”

Flowers mark the spot where Riley Martin died.

A gentle giant

Ms Fennell said two of her nieces lived with her and Riley was like a big brother to them.

“He used to buy them pizza,” she said.

“He’d give them lollies when they weren’t allowed to have them.

“I’d tell him ‘No Riley’ and he’d say ‘Ah come on Mum, it’s only a couple’ with this cheeky grin.

“You’d tell him he couldn’t do something and he’d just give you this cheeky little grin and, in his head, he’d be thinking ‘Well I’m going to do it anyway’.

“He used to annoy the girls, yet they never held a grudge towards Riley at all.

“They loved him.”

Recently the family adopted a red cattle dog puppy.

“He’d wrestle and roll around the lounge room with her,” Ms Fennell said.

She said the dog was feeling the family hurting and was missing Riley’s presence.

Back row: Brothers Lukus, Josh and Riley Martin with cousins/sisters Mystique and Erinella Fennell.

“She’s become super protective of us,” she said.

Two other red cattle dogs are kept out the back and each time a motorbike rides up the main road they think it’s Riley coming home and run up to the gate.

“They know he hasn’t come home,” Ms Fennell said.

Close family friends Emma and Jahnaya have set up a GoFundMe for the family.

“Being mothers ourselves we can‘t even imagine what she is going through right now, losing a child is something no parent should ever have to experience,” Ms Mumford said.

Police are investigating the crash.