Shaye Tallis’s ‘beautiful-nature’ remembered after tragic collision at Shellharbour
A 16-year-old killed in a horrific collision with a car south of Wollongong on Tuesday has been remembered for his “beautiful-nature”.
Illawarra Star
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Tributes are flowing in for a teenage boy killed in a tragic collision while riding his bike south of Wollongong Tuesday afternoon.
Shaye Tallis passed away at Sydney Children’s Hospital last night, after he was hit by a car while riding his bike across a busy intersection at Wattle Road, Blackbutt, around 6pm.
The 16-year-old Barrack Heights local sustained head and chest injuries and was treated at the scene, before being flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
He died upon arrival.
On Wednesday morning, flowers and candles had been left on Wattle Road for the “beautiful-natured” Year 11 Warilla High student, who would have turned 17 in May.
Lake Illawarra Police District Inspector Anthony Peterson said the teenager was thrown from his bike at the moment of impact with the car, and that his injuries were “severe”.
“He collided heavily (with the car) and was ejected from his bike,” he said.
“He was unconscious the entire time (emergency services worked on him).
A witness told the Illawarra Star he heard a “huge bang” before a woman’s scream around 6pm on Tuesday.
“I thought two cars had smashed, but then I saw it was a bike,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it … the poor boy.”
It’s understood the 16-year-old was riding his bike alone at the time of the crash, and that he was not wearing a helmet.
Insp Peterson said both Mr Tallis’ family, who is very well-known in the Barrack Heights area, and the 25-year-old driver of the vehicle who hit him were understandably shattered.
“The family of the boy are distraught, they are a local family who live very close by,” he said.
“(The female driver) was (also) distraught, she’s a young person from the local area.”
Insp Peterson said following the fatal collision, the woman was taking for mandatory alcohol testing, which returned a negative result, and was assisting police.
While the speed limit on Wattle Road is 60km/h, Insp Peterson said it was unknown whether speed played a role in the collision.
Charges have not been laid against the woman, however the Crash Investigation Unit will now use traffic light data to help determine who had the right of way.