Family and friends remember ‘charismatic’ father of three after fatal motorbike crash
Devastated family and friends remember father of three Ben Collier for the fun loving and dedicated family man he was following a fatal motorbike crash.
Newcastle
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Charismatic. Fun. An amazing father to his three little girls.
Devastated family and friends are mourning the loss of Cameron Park man Ben Collier, 35, who tragically lost his life when the motorbike he was riding crashed into a pole at Scott St, near the Newcastle train station following a police pursuit last week.
Her world shattered, wife Koelah now has to come to terms with the fact her girls, aged seven, four and three, will never see their dad again.
“It’s the worst pain that I’ve ever felt, like I’m never going to stop crying,” she said.
“I’ve lost the best dad for our girls and my best friend.”
She wants him to be remembered for the beautiful soul he was.
“He was an amazing husband and father to our kids,” Mrs Collier said.
“He worked so hard to build us a life that most people only dream of.
“Everyday is going to be so painful for us to live without him.”
Mum Joanne said the family are shattered and life would never be the same.
She said he was always the first person to lend a helping hand.
“Ben was a popular and likeable young man,” she said.
“He had many genuine friends from school, work and family that shared his life.
“Ben loved fishing and camping with his family and friends.
“He was a wonderful son, brother, father, husband, uncle, cousin and friend to us all.”
A Scone boy, who moved to the Hunter Valley in his early teens before he moved to Newcastle years later, Ben was also loved dearly by his mates, who gathered last week to remember the fun loving guy he was.
“He loved his daughters and family more than anything and also his mates,” one of his best friends Andrew Anderson (Voller) said.
“He was charismatic and people were drawn to him.
“Anyone in his company was having fun, we all loved him.”
In a devastating series of events that Wednesday morning, police said they tried to pull Mr Collier’s motorbike over near the intersection of Hunter and Steel streets before a pursuit ensued.
Police said the pursuit was terminated, before he crashed and could not be saved at the scene.
A critical incident investigation was launched shortly after, and an independent review is being undertaken to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
“We love you Ben, and you will always be with us,” mum Joanne said.