Northern beaches crash: Cohen Griggs-Bufton’s mum issues powerful plea to young drivers as she farewells her teenage son killed in a horror crash

A grieving mother who lost her son in a horror crash a fortnight ago has made a passionate plea for young drivers to stay safe on the roads.

Cohen Griggs-Bufton, 16, was one of six occupants of a Toyota Hilux that crashed into a tree at Bayview near Sydney’s northern beaches on October 7.

The popular Narrabeen Sports High School student, who was in the front passenger seat at the time, died at the scene.

Friends and loved ones gathered at Cohen’s funeral in Pittwater on Saturday to say goodbye to the ‘cheeky, sweet’ teenager.

His mother Lindy Griggs fought back tears as she made a powerful plea to his friends and classmates.

She hopes teens learn from the tragedy so their families don’t experience the same nightmare.

“If anything good can come from such a tragedy, it will be that it will stop someone else from making the same mistake and save a life,” Griggs told mourners. the Daily Telegraph.

“Someone else’s family doesn’t have to suffer so much pain. With all my heart Cohen, I love you always and forever.”

Mrs Griggs said the past two weeks have felt like a lifetime and life will never be the same.

‘We count every breath. You brought us so much joy, so sassy and so sweet,” she said.

‘And for a fleeting moment he is still there, but then comes the fear and the longing feeling that something is missing.

“My beautiful boy, I will never forget your precious smile, or how you lit up the room.”

Friends paid tribute to the avid skater whom they called ‘Co Co’ for short.

His aunt dubbed Cohen the ‘cheese and bacon’ boy because of his love of toast before recalling a family holiday on the Gold Coast at the age of six.

“We realized he was missing… we found him with the sales girls (in a skate shop) who were organizing sponsorship for a major brand,” she told mourners.

“He told them it was the opportunity of a lifetime to get him on board early as he was going to be a big name in skateboarding.”

“He said, ‘It’s going to be expensive, at least six dollars and fifty.’

Cohen’s friends held back tears as they lined up to lay a hand on his casket.

The minister leading the service echoed Ms Griggs’ plea.

Paul Simpson told mourners that “some mistakes you can only make once.”

“I don’t know exactly what happened that night, I certainly wasn’t there, but we know one life was lost and we know five lives were changed,” Secretary Simpson said.

“And as we gather here today, I especially want to say to the young people, don’t forget this day. You must remember this day and you must remember that life is fragile and easily lost.”

A online fundraiser has raised nearly $50,000 to help Cohen’s family.

It later emerged that one of the occupants was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Cohen was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Hilux, while four other boys, aged 16 and 17, were in the back seat.

The other passengers were rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital by paramedics.

Police said the 17-year-old driver with a red P plate was flown to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The driver has not committed any criminal offences.

The crash scene was awash with flowers, two skateboards, a teddy bear and a bottle of Coopers beer in a makeshift memorial left at the foot of the tree where the Hilux crashed.

Messages of love and sadness were written on the back of the skateboards, including one that read: “Love ya mate, rest easy.”

A local resident who called triple-zero described hearing two loud bangs and when they went to investigate they found the wreckage and two boys who had climbed to the side of the road ‘withering away’.

Investigators are looking into whether alcohol, drugs or speed were a factor in the crash, or whether the driver passed a curve just before the tree.

The tree was previously the site of another fatal accident in 2003, with locals saying speed bumps had to be built before the sharp bend.