Police investigating claims relative of Wayne Russell was driving car before deadly crash

Police are investigating claims a relative of the 12 year-old boy killed when a stolen car hit a pole may have been behind the wheel and fled after the deadly crash happened.

A relative of a 12-year-old boy who died after a stolen car hit a pole at high speed was possibly driving the vehicle and fled the scene when the high-speed crash happened.

Police are investigating claims a male known to Wayne Russell was behind the wheel of the black Holden Barina when it crashed at Towradgi, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The boy, known affectionately as “lil Wayne” was pulled from the mangled wreckage in a critical state and dropped off at a friend’s place, who called Triple-0.

He died a short time later in Wollongong Hospital.

NSW Police said they were still piecing together the crash and trying to establish who was in the black car, as well as the driver of a silver car seen dropping the dying boy to a house in Balgownie.

Wayne Russell died after a crash in Towradgi early on Tuesday morning. Picture: Supplied

Witnesses have told police a relative of Wayne was at the wheel of the car, which was reported stolen from Koonawarra three days earlier.

The crashed car was abandoned when emergency crews arrived at the scene, with the front two doors and one rear door wide open.

The crash scene on the corner Memorial Drive and Towradgi Road in Towradgi. Picture: Richard Dobson

Neighbours heard a man’s voice screaming, but when they ran to offer help, everyone in the car had fled the scene.

Detective Inspector Jason Hogan told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that police still don’t know who was in either vehicle, and are appealing for anyone with social media footage to hand it over to investigators.

Witnesses have told police the black car was seen in a ‘cat and mouse’ chase with another vehicle in the hours before the crash at 1.35am on Memorial Drive.

Police are looking at whether the crash is linked to a dangerous social media craze where people film themselves joy-riding in stolen cars, and post it on TikTok.

Relatives and friends of Wayne paid tribute to the boy who was “rugby league mad” and an adored by his extended family.

Wayne, 12, wearing blue shirt, was rushed to a friend’s place after the crash, but died on the way to Wollongong Hospital. Picture: Facebook

“My deepest condolences to our family the Russells as we all mourn the death our little cousin Wayne Russell. So young. RIP in the Dreamtime little cuzzo,” Matthew Parker wrote.

Diane Phillips said: “Woke up to the saddest news, why does God take the best ones. RIP Lil Wayne. I love you. Forever in our hearts my boy.”

Anyone with dashcam footage taken in the Towradgi area on Monday night or early Tuesday morning is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.