Car crash victim Lachie Burleigh’s beloved van taken by thieves and dumped in bush
EXCLUSIVE: Heartless thieves stole and vandalised a van belonging to Lachlan Burleigh, one of the three northern beaches youngsters killed in a horror crash last August.
Nth Beaches
Don't miss out on the headlines from Nth Beaches. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Lachlan Burleigh named as first victim of triple tragedy
- P-plater Jordan Brown, 20, charged with driving dangerously
- Lachlan Burleigh, Ben Sawyer and Luke Shanahan named as the young men killed in horrific crash
- Peninsula residents dig deep for families who lost their sons
HEARTLESS thieves stole and vandalised a van belonging to Lachlan Burleigh, one of the three northern beaches youngsters killed in a horror crash last August.
Lachlan’s father Mike told the Manly Daily he sank to the ground and cried when he saw what had happened to the van.
His 17-year-old son spent years saving up for it by working a cinema job, and bought it just a few months before he perished.
The van was painted with a mural in tribute to Lachlan by friends and family after he was killed on 30 August.
It says: “Lachie” and “Rest in paradise”,
But it was found badly damaged down a fire track in Oxford Falls, after being stolen from Dee Why on Monday night.
Mr Burleigh, a handyman from Warriewood, said: “As a man, watching your son scrimp and save to buy a van, I’ve got nothing good to say about thieves.
“By the time I got to the van I fell to the ground and just cried. It’s hard.”
Lachlan’s mother, Deb, who works as a nurse at her son’s school, Oxford Falls Grammar, said: “We are furious and gutted. It’s shocking trying to grieve, and have this happen, it’s so unfair. The van was very, very precious. He worked so hard at the cinema.”
The Toyota had been Lachlan’s dream vehicle, and he hoped to use it as a mobile home when he studied marine biology. He wanted to go to James Cook University in Far North Queensland.
He earned the $7000 to buy it by working after school at Warriewood cinema.
A special paddle-out to scatter Lachlan’s ashes in September also saw family and friends adorn the roof with their hand prints.
The van was being used by Lachlan’s brother Jayden, who had parked it at the Dee Why surf club overflow carpark on Monday night.
He’d decided to go to a barbecue and so left it behind – but when he returned the next morning it had gone.
Mrs Burleigh said he phoned in a panic.
“He said: ‘I’m really stressed and anxious because the van’s not there’,” she said.
The family went to Dee Why police station, and said they were thankful to the officers, who managed to track it down quickly to near Spicer Rd, Oxford Falls.
“They put two and two together, as at about 12.20am on Tuesday morning they got a call from a man in Peppercorn Drive, Frenchs Forest who had heard a horrific noise and the van had bashed into his fence,” Mrs Burleigh said.
“The guys had got out. Apparently they got back in and drove down and it got bogged. They must have just ran off.”
The culprits had also stashed stolen goods, including passports and phones taken from backpackers, in the back, according to the family.
Mr Burleigh said the family was still struggling to cope with Lachie’s death.
“Every day is a new cycle of grief,” he said.
Police are investigating and have asked anyone with information to contact Dee Why police on 99716639 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
COUNTING COSTS
Damage to the vehicle is extensive, and the family is waiting to see if it can be repaired.
Mrs Burleigh, said: “The driver’s window has been smashed. The wind guard on the driver’s side is smashed. The indicator has been ripped out, the sound system has been ripped out, the fender has come off, the tyres are completely balded and the underneath is wrecked. ”
TRAGIC ACCIDENT
THREE young men lost their lives in the horrific accident on August 30.
Ben Sawyer, 19, and Luke Shanahan, 21, died alongside Lachie Burleigh in the crash on the Bells Line of Road between Bilpin and Kurmond when they were returning from a dance party in the Blue Mountains.
In October driver Jordan Brown, 20, of Freshwater, was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and drive vehicle with illicit drug.
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