Police want to speak to all occupants of blue Mazda that had left 16-year-old prior to his death
Investigations into why a teenage boy was left on a Tasmanian highway, alone, by people he knew before he was tragically fatally struck by a separate vehicle have been put under the microscope by police. Examination of the highway is now complete. LATEST.
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Updated, January 3, 11.17am: Police have concluded their examinations at the Tasman Highway near Orielton following the death of a teenage boy left alone before he was fatally struck by a vehicle.
Traffic is now open in all directions and police have thanked the public for their patience.
Updated, 3.30pm: The circumstances behind why a teenage boy was left on a Tasmanian highway alone by people he knew, before he was fatally struck by a separate vehicle have been placed under the microscope by police.
The Berriedale boy, aged 16, was laying on the road when he was hit on the Tasman Highway at Orielton, just before midnight on January 1.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Acting Inspector Adrian Leary confirmed the teenager had earlier been travelling in a blue Mazda Tribute with a group of people known to him, before the vehicle stopped and the 16-year-old was left behind.
“There has been some reason why the vehicle had stopped in the road, and the 16-year-old boy had been left behind at that time … and he was struck by a vehicle some time later while on the road’s surface,” Acting Inspector Leary said.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the crash, the road was blocked until about 2.45pm on Tuesday.
Acting Inspector Leary said the driver of the vehicle that had hit the boy had stopped “immediately”, called emergency services, and remained on the scene.
The blue Mazda was not in the area when the boy was struck, and was found empty hours later in Clarendon Vale.
He said it was still unclear why the boy had been lying on the road.
“It is unknown at this time as to why he’d got out of the vehicle and why he’d been left behind by the group – that is still a matter under investigation by crash investigation services,” he said.
He said while police had spoken to one occupant of the Mazda, police were interested to speak with “all occupants”.
He was unable to confirm if the Mazda had actually been a stolen car and said the matter was still under investigation.
Whether or not alcohol had been consumed by the occupants of the Mazda was a “line of inquiry” police were still examining, he said – but he noted that the driver of the car that had struck the boy had no alcohol in their system.
“He [the driver] has certainly been very traumatised by the matter,” he said.
As the first recorded road death of 2024, Acting Inspector Leary said the tragic situation
appeared to be “quite accidental”.
“ … Certainly, very traumatic for all people involved including witnesses and emergency service attending … it’s a terrible tragedy at any time of year, for the family …,” he said.
“We would highly encourage people who are using the roads to obey the speed limit to drive to the conditions and do not drink and drive under any circumstances.
“We cannot pass that message on strongly enough; we go to so many crashes and these tragic events and have to deal with the families involved who are just broken from then on.”
Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard said continued upgrades to Tasmania’s road network were needed in 2024, as well as a greater level of collaboration between the three tiers of government when it came to road safety.
While Tasmania’s road toll was lower last year compared to the horror figures seen in 2022, Mr Tilyard said there was “no comfort we can take from that”, with serious injuries having increased by 12 per cent.
Thirty-four people died on Tasmanian roads in 2023, which was 17 less deaths than the previous year.
Updated 11.20AM: A 16-year-old boy from Berriedale was lying on the road surface when he was struck by a car on the Tasman Highway at Orielton, police say.
Investigations remain ongoing into how the car ran over the pedestrian just before midnight on New Year’s Day.
Motorists who called emergency services stopped to assist at the scene.
“Initial inquiries indicate that a vehicle travelling on the Tasman Highway at Orielton has struck the boy who was lying on the road surface,” a Tasmania Police spokesman said.
“The driver of the vehicle stopped immediately and contacted police and emergency services.
“Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the boy.”
Tragically, the boy was dead on arrival of emergency services.
The Tasman Highway remains closed while police conduct investigations into the crash.
Officers believe the boy was travelling in a blue Mazda Tribute in the Orielton area prior to the crash, which has formed part of their investigation.
Police are continuing their inquiries and are appealing for witnesses to the crash, and anyone who saw the blue Mazda Tribute around midnight to come forward.
Traffic is being diverted via Brinktop Road and Fingerpost Road through Richmond.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information should contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or via Crimestoppers Tasmania.
Initial: Police continue investigations at the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian overnight.
Sadly, officers confirmed a 16-year-old boy died as a result of the crash.
Police report the incident occurred on the Tasman Highway at Orielton just before midnight on New Year’s Day.
Traffic continues to be diverted away from the scene between Brinktop Road and Green Road.
Police have asked motorists to avoid the area until further notice.
It’s a horror start to the year’s death toll with the death of a teenager the first of 2024.
Tasmania recorded 34 deaths on the road for 2023, it was 17 fewer than the devastating 2022 figures.
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