Boy, 6, orphaned after parents killed in crash

A six-year-old boy in Perth has been orphaned after both of his parents were killed in a horrific motorbike crash.

A six-year-old boy in Perth has been orphaned after both of his parents were killed in a tragic motorbike crash.

Paul Pearce and his partner Lynette Reader were riding along Pinjar Road in the Perth suburb of Tapping at about 9:20pm on Sunday when they came over a crest and disaster struck.

On the other side of the crest was a Toyota Aurion, which was turning the corner at the intersection of Galileo Ave. The two vehicles collided.

Paul Pearce and Lynette Reader were killed in a motorbike crash on Sunday. Picture: Facebook

Mr Pearce, 39, died at the scene. Ms Reader, 35, his pillion passenger, was rushed to Joondalup Hospital but could not be saved. She died shortly thereafter.

The driver of the Aurion, a 43-year-old woman, sustained a minor eye injury.

The couple’s heartbroken families have promised to raise their six-year-old son.

Ms Reader’s mother described Mr Pearce and Ms Reader as a “young, loving couple that cherished their son dearly”.

“I have no other words than ‘taken too soon’,” she said.

The driver of the Aurion sustained a minor eye injury. Picture: Channel 9

In an emotional Facebook post, Ms Reader’s brother, Todd, said his sister was “a joy that was taken away”.

“The pain I feel is hard to put into words,” he wrote.

“Wish you stayed in Tasmania, wish this was just a bad dream. You leave behind your beautiful son, I promise to be there for him. This is one pain I never wanted to feel, you were meant to grow old and cranky with me.

“A sister is someone who loves you from the heart, no matter how much you argue you cannot be drawn apart. She was a joy that was taken away. I’m just lost this day, I’ll always think about you.”

The couple’s heartbroken families have promised to raise their six-year-old son. Picture: Facebook

Parts of the Honda motorcycle came to a stop more than 50 metres from where the two vehicles collided.

One witness said “you could hear the bike coming”.

“Then it was just silence pretty much straight after,” he told reporters.

“It was horrific, it was chaos. It’s not something I’d like to see again.”

Police are investigating whether speed was a factor in the deadly crash. It’s understood the couple had recently sold the motorbike and were only minutes from home when the incident occurred.

“We’ve seen a number of motorcycle fatalities this year and it’s a very, very strong reminder that motorcycling is a dangerous way to move around,” WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.

“Motorcycles don’t have any protection around them and, as a motorcycle rider myself, I know you’ve got to be very, very alert.”

Authorities have asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to get in touch.

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Originally published as Boy, 6, orphaned after parents killed in crash