Crash in Ashcroft: Heartbroken families of best friends, 13 and 14, killed in horror crash before driver and adult passenger reportedly fled the scene, breaking their silence
The heartbroken families of two boys allegedly left to die after a horror crash in Sydney have broken their silence.
Braydan Collier, 13, and Kaine Bell, 14, died about 10.50am on Monday when the gray Ford Falcon they were traveling in crashed into a tree and a utility pole on Maxwell Avenue in Ashcroft, in Sydney’s south-west.
Emergency workers found their bodies scattered across the lawn of a suburban estate, about five meters from the main body of the car.
Security footage showed Nicholas Thew, 27, and Anthony Morris, 23, leaving the driver and passenger seats of the vehicle and fleeing the scene.
The men were reportedly on the run for just over a day before being arrested at Wetherill Park police station at 12.30pm on Tuesday.
No charges have been laid at this stage.
“Both of our families are still in shock and devastated by yesterday’s tragic crash. We continue to grieve the loss of our beloved son and brother,” the Collier and Bell families said in a joint statement.
Braydan Collier had just celebrated his 13th birthday before his life was cut short on Monday
Kaine Bell, 14, died around 10:50 a.m. Monday
Ny Breaking Australia previously revealed that CCTV showed Thew – who is on parole for domestic violence – had a serious injury to his right index finger that would have required immediate medical attention.
Ny Breaking Australia previously revealed that CCTV showed Thew – who is on parole for domestic violence – had a serious injury to his right index finger that would have required immediate medical attention.
On Tuesday morning A GoFundMe A campaign was launched to help Kaine’s family cover funeral costs.
“Kaine was such a happy kid who would always be happiest when he was riding his bike or fishing with Dad. He was an adventurous boy who will be so greatly missed,” the fundraiser said.
“A beautiful smile, with those dimples and brown curly hair, you were well on your way to becoming a beautiful boy.”
‘Any amount is appreciated, because every cent helps during this difficult time. Please keep Kaine’s parents and sisters in your thoughts.”
Security footage showed the driver pulling out of the wreckage shortly after the crash before walking past the body of a child lying on the ground..
He could be seen pulling the second boy from the tail wreckage before allegedly pushing him to the ground.
The driver was then allegedly seen returning to free a young adult from the front seat before checking on the boy being thrown from the car.
Thew reportedly fled the crash site Monday morning, with an injured hand
Pictured: Nicholas Thew, who was arrested and taken to hospital on Tuesday
Best friends Braydan Collier, 13, and Kaine Bell, 14, were traveling in a gray Ford Falcon sedan that crashed into a tree and utility pole (scene pictured)
Community members paid tribute to the boys by placing flowers and stuffed animals at the scene
He briefly put his hands on his head.
One of the men was heard shouting at the other, “I want to go home,” as they reportedly ran from the scene, leaving the teens lifeless on the ground.
A boy on a dirt bike also inspected the scene before riding away.
A local resident, who did not want to be named, previously told Ny Breaking Australia that they had seen the car driving erratically in the lead-up to the crash, with the front passenger behaving wildly.
“About ten minutes before the crash happened, my family was walking down Busby Road (about two kilometers away from the crash site) and we saw him waving out the windows and shouting and acting stupid in the passenger seat,” she said.
“They were (allegedly) speeding, skidding and turning with the handbrake.”
Thew’s heartbroken family revealed on Monday night that the men were being considered surrogate big brothers to Braydan and Kaine.
His younger brother Dridyn revealed how the family had taken the teenagers under their wing.
Pictured: Flowers and floral tributes for the teenage boys who died in a car accident on Monday
Pictured: The scene of the crash in Ashcroft, south-west Sydney, on Tuesday
“Mom is more concerned about the two little boys. “She tried to take them under her wing, she took Kaine and Braydan under her wing, even though she was struggling with herself… and now there’s nothing we can do,” he said.
“They’re little ones that I took under my wing to keep out of trouble, but I haven’t seen them in two days and look where they are now.”
Another brother was the one who identified the teens’ bodies.
Deputy Commissioner McFadden said witnesses would have been traumatized by the scene.
“The absolute devastation that has occurred… and the loss of two young lives when they were ejected from that vehicle,” Mr McFadden told reporters.
“Anyone who witnessed that crash would undoubtedly have been traumatized by it.”
Deputy Commissioner McFadden said police did not believe the car had been stolen.