NRL star Latrell Mitchell mourning loss of cousin in horror car crash

NRL star Latrell Mitchell has been shattered by the loss of his young cousin. It comes just weeks after the South Sydney Rabbitoh travelled NSW with senior police officers in a program aimed at keeping kids on the straight and narrow.

• Souths rally around Latrell

NRL star Latrell Mitchell has been shattered by the loss of his young cousin in a car crash in northern NSW.

Mitchell woke to the news on Saturday morning that his 14-year-old first cousin was in a car with four other boys driving in a stolen Volkswagen Tiguan around Jubullum Mission, between Casino and Tenterfield, when the driver lost control and hit a tree.

Latrell’s cousin and a 15-year-old boy were declared dead at the scene. Police confirmed the driver and front passenger were killed.

Three other teenagers were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition while the two others are being treated for minor injuries.

Sources close to Latrell said he was devastated and mourning the loss with his family.

Latrell Mitchell’s cousin died in a horrific car accident on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

It’s just weeks since the South Sydney Rabbitohs star travelled the state with some of NSW’s most senior police officers launching a program to keep kids on the straight and narrow and off the streets.

Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood told The Sunday Telegraph the officers he had been working with were devastated for Mitchell and his family.

“He’s been a huge supporter and advocate both at the youth command and with the Indigenous platform in NSW Police,” Mr Wood said.

“He has been travelling with us to launch the Fight For Success programs in the northern and western regions of the state.

“Before then, he had been heavily involved in the anti-­violence program, helping us with key messaging around youth and expectations on their behaviour and conduct.”

Two teenagers have died, and three others were hospitalised following a single-vehicle crash. Picture: Supplied

The Sunday Telegraph exclusively joined the launch in Kempsey, where hundreds of little faces stared up at Mitchell, busting for a signature on their drink bottles, a shake of his hand or a catch of his footy.

But first the NRL superstar and proud Aboriginal man had something to get off his chest.

“I was once sitting there like you are today,” he told the children.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I always knew if I worked hard enough and respected my elders, I would go a long way.”

The Rabbitohs fullback nodded as a sign of respect to the elders seated in the front row and then said to the children: “It starts today, show respect, listen to your elders”.

This weekend his elders, and the wider northern NSW community, is struggling to come to terms with the senseless tragedy.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Scott Tanner said crashes like these had a ripple effect through the community and tore families apart.

“There are two sides to the coin. Protecting the victims in the community whose lives are turned upside down by these serious crimes when their homes are broken into and cars stolen, versus the risk transferral when the young offenders are behind the wheel of a car, speeding with limited experience,” Mr Tanner said.

Mitchell was a huge hit at Kempsey recently as part of the Fight For Success program. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Rabbitohs star and police travelled NSW in a program aimed to keep kids on the straight and narrow. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told The Sunday Telegraph police were working around the clock in both the city and regional areas to get the message out to young people that breaking into homes, stealing cars and going on high-speed joy rides had dire consequences for everyone and needed to stop.

“What a tragic waste of young life. This high-risk behaviour has led to deadly consequences, it’s senseless,” she said.

“Choices have consequences and some have become deadly.”

Ms Webb said crashes like the one this weekend and several in Sydney over the past few weeks were the very tragedies police were trying to avoid through Operation Mongoose in regional areas and Sweetenham in the city.

Aboriginal elders in the Kempsey area told the Sunday Telegraph they were working closely with police to address the spike in dangerous crimes committed by children as young as 10.

“The last thing we want to do is lock up children but that’s what we will do when nothing else seems to get through to them and the community needs protecting,” Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos told The Sunday Telegraph at the time.

Uncle Bob Smith said police had his full support and the support of other areas in the Kempsey region.

“The problem is these kids are starting this behaviour very young, they are getting influenced by older fellas and I shake my head,” Uncle Bob said.

“When we were growing up we were disciplined and we knew our place, we knew to be home before dark.”

Aunty Cheryl said she was pleased the police were engaging with the elders and “listening with both ears”.

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