Jai Wright: Eveleigh memorial remembers the young man and sports fan

A memorial in Eveleigh, at the spot where Jai Wright was killed, has been set up by family and friends, remembering the schoolboy and keen sportsman.

The 16-year-old boy who was killed in a police incident in the inner city on Saturday morning has been remembered through pictures, notes and a mosaic of flowers at a memorial near the spot where he died.

According to Inner West Area Police Command, officers sighted two suspected stolen vehicles – a black Mercedes and blue 2019 Sherco trail bike – near Newtown about 7am Saturday.

Police allege the trail bike was last seen turning right into Sydney Park Rd, Alexandria.

Shortly after, about 7.35am, the same trail bike collided with an unmarked police vehicle at the intersection of Henderson and Mitchell Rds, Alexandria.

The rider, Jai Wright, was ejected from the bike and suffered serious injuries. He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he was confirmed dead yesterday morning.

Jai’s father, Lachlan Wright, told the ABC he had been given conflicting information about the details around his son’s death.

“We have been given inconsistent information by police as to what caused Jai’s death,” Mr Wright said.

“Who do we believe now? What is the truth? We want to know the truth.”

Away from the headlines, people have been remembering a boy who loved sport — particularly soccer and the South Sydney Rabbitohs — and was a popular friend and classmate.

In Eveleigh, only metres from where Jai crashed, a memorial has been set-up by friends and family, growing over the last couple of days, as people look to honour and remember his memory.

‘I’m gonna miss your smile, love you long time, Jai’, read one note marked with Sharpie on the sign at the centre of the memorial.

‘Gone too soon,’ and ‘you were loved by so many’ were also left.

The aftermath of the crash, the bike Jai was riding lies on the floor, the parking sign behind is the location of the memorial. Picture: Julian Andrews

Remembering and mourning Jai Wright. Picture: Neil Bennett

Classmates, friends and teammates from Jai’s soccer club, Enfield Allstars FC, came after school to lay flowers, leave notes and photos, and pay their respects.

South Sydney Rabbitohs stickers were dotted around the memorial, but on the sister-code’s Gilbert rugby ball people left words of wishes, and of remembrance: ‘Fly high, Jai’, and ‘Love you my brother, not going to be the same without you’.

Flowers spilt onto the pavement, having to be rearranged and propped up by people attending the memorial site.

Across the sign, the shirts of his football clubs are proudly on display — clubmates told the Inner West Courier that Jai was a reluctant goalkeeper, but a very good one.

Next to the shirts photos of Jai are pinned up: pictures of him at school, with family and friends, in his goalkeeper kit.

Sitting among the flowers and photographs a lone jar of pickles can be spotted at the base of the memorial, Jai’s nickname to his friends at school.

‘To pickles,’ it reads, ‘keep smiling’.