Updated ,first published
Two boys have died after the motorbike they were riding collided with a bus in Sydney’s west on Monday night.
Emergency services responded to reports of an accident involving a bus on the Liverpool Parramatta Transitway at Bossley Park at around 7.10pm.
Police said the motorcycle got stuck under the bus. The rider, a 15-year-old boy, and the passenger, a 14-year-old boy, were treated by paramedics, but both died at the scene.
The 48-year-old driver of the bus was also examined by medical personnel before being taken to the hospital for a necessary examination.
No passengers on the bus were injured.
The collision happened on the T-way near Wheller Street, about 100 meters from Restwell Road.
Those who witnessed the incident described watching the horrific incident unfold.
One man told Nine News, “I saw this little boy hit by a big bus, we were passing by. We saw the bus do a U-turn, and this boy went straight under the bus.”
Locals have taken to social media to raise the alarm about the dangers of the busy T-way, which is a dedicated bus route used by more than 43,000 passengers every week.
There have been calls to replace the T line with light rail to address safety concerns and support growing passenger demand.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said the T-way has long been a source of concern for residents, following another incident in February when two boys were hit by an e-bike.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those who were hurt, and I sincerely hope they are okay,” Carbone wrote on Facebook shortly after the incident.
The tragedy comes as the NSW government is determined to introduce new e-bike laws to parliament.
The legislation, to be introduced on Tuesday, will give NSW Police and NSW Transport new powers to seize and crush illegally modified e-bikes.
Based on similar “catch and crush” laws already in place in Western Australia, NSW laws will use “dyno” units – portable dynamometers that can measure whether electric vehicles can go faster than the speed limit.
Transport Minister John Graham said the law “gives police and transport officers the powers they need to effectively and permanently remove these devices from streets and public spaces”.
The crackdown follows months of controversy over the use of electric bikes on Sydney’s roads.
It is illegal for children to ride motorcycles in NSW. Student drivers must be at least 16 months and nine years old.
Officials from the Fairfield Metropolitan Area Police Command said that an investigation into the circumstances of the fatal crash was ongoing.
Questions have been raised about how the two youths were able to get the bike without permission. Detective Superintendent Craig Middleton told Nine’s Today indicate that this would be investigated by the police.
“We’re just in the early stages of the investigation, so it’s very early days right now, but all kinds of things we’ll be looking at as the investigation continues,” he said.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward following Monday’s incident. Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage should contact Fairfield City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Emily Kaine is a national news blogger at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through email address.Lynette Eyb is the online producer of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect through email address.
