Top Gold Coast cop plea after fatal head-on death of teen Jasey Grant
A TOP cop is pleading for motorists to heed the “wake up call” of a Gold Coast schoolboy’s death in a head-on smash, saying speed is believed to be a major factor. His family and friends have paid tribute to the ‘so, so loving’ teenager.
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A TOP cop is pleading for motorists to heed the “wake up call” of a Gold Coast schoolboy’s death in a head-on smash, saying speed is believed to be a major factor.
Family of Jasey Grant, 15, and his fellow Pimpama State Secondary College students are in mourning after the budding musician was killed in the horror collision on Sunday afternoon.
Jasey, pronounced dead at the Tamborine-Oxenford Road scene, was a passenger sitting behind 17-year-old driver Jordan Martin who is in hospital.
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The P-plate driver’s Mitsubishi Lancer, carrying two others aged 17 and eight, collided with a ute containing a mother and her two children. The smash collapsed the Lancer’s driver side passenger door.
No one has been charged but South East Queensland assistant commissioner Brian Codd said police had “spoken to a number of witnesses indicating speed as a significant contributor”.
Mr Codd said Jasey’s tragic death needed to be seen as more than just another tally on the road toll.
“We can sit there and talk about numbers but these are human beings with lives and aspirations that have been snuffed out,” Mr Codd said.
“We can’t avoid the continuing reality that speed kills. I hate talking about human beings as adding to more numbers for data — this needs to be a wake up call.
“This happens too often, this is a 15-year-old boy gone, and a 17-year-old critical,” he said.
Mr Codd added police were at their wits end in their fight against speeding and distraction.
“We put enormous effort into speed, they are not hard lessons to learn but we have still got people who think this won’t happen to them — young people are not considering the consequences,” he said.
Mr Codd vowed police would not back off strong traffic enforcement measures.
“We get whinges when people get a fine or are stopped but we are not stepping back, we are losing too many people, it’s too tragic to stop,” he said.
“The ripple effect is not just those directly involved.”
Jasey’s mother Erryn last saw him two weeks ago when she dropped him at Sydney Airport bound for the Gold Coast.
She said he had gone back to visit for her birthday.
“It was the best present I could have ever got. He is the reason I live, my best friend and I will miss every single little thing about him,” she said.
Jasey, part of punk band Transistor, moved to Pimpama earlier this year to start Grade 10 and pursue a career in music.
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He had played at events in his home town of Ulladulla, a coastal town south of Sydney, including the fundraising event Relay for Life, she said.
“My baby boy was the most talented musician,” Ms Grant said.
“He was doing school (on the Gold Coast) for a year as there were a few more options for his music path.
“It was the hardest choice to make as a family, but when there is so much more opportunity up there it’s something he wanted to try out. His stepdad Scott and myself fully supported his decision.”
Ms Grant described her son, who loved skating and dog Jess, as “cheeky, smart and so, so loving”.
“He was and is my best friend and is so, so full of life,” she said. “(It was) him and I versus the world basically.”
Yvette Staples, describing Jasey as her “first born Grandson” wrote: “Rip young man … taken way to soon, a whole world was ahead of you … so very glad we had some time together before this happened … so much love and sadness, rest now Nan xx.”
Classmates described the teen online as a happy boy who made them laugh.
“Rest in peace Jase, I hope you’re doing well up above, you’ll be forever missed,” read one.
“15 years of age and 15 forever always in our hearts, making us laugh and smile at your silly jokes,” another friend posted.
“He was a happy boy who was very funny and always made them laugh,” a friend who travelled to school with Jasey said.
Tricia Martin, the mother of 17-year-old Jordan who was in a critical condition in hospital, wrote online: “Please pray for our son Jordan Martin who is critical in GCUH & Pray for the young boy who has tragically lost his life in this devastating accident.”
Pimpama State Secondary College principal John Thornberry said the fatal smash had “devastated their classmates and teachers”.
“We have support in place, and a few extra counsellors,” he said.
“It’s not the news anyone wants to hear, a few of the kids were aware of the accident over the weekend.”
Mr Thornberry said the Year 10 to 12 students involved “are all good kids”.
A Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.
Police are sappealing for witnesses to the crash, or anyone who may have seen the vehicles prior to the incident, to call (07) 55 147 880.
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