Two teens dead, three others injured in off-road bike crash

A Father’s Day party ended in tragedy after two teenagers were killed in a motorbike collision, while the father of a deceased teen was injured when he rushed to the crash scene near Melton.

An 18-year-old Altona Meadows woman died at the scene after two off-road motorbikes collided on Beattys Road in Grangefields, 40 kilometres north-west of the Melbourne CBD, just after 6.35pm on Sunday.

A critically injured 17-year-old Hoppers Crossing boy was taken to hospital, where he died overnight.

A six-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy, both from Hoppers Crossing, were taken to hospital in a serious condition. Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham told 3AW the pair sustained life-threatening injuries, but were stable on Monday morning.

Lineham said investigators believe the two deceased teenagers were riding separate motorbikes when they collided head-on.

“It appears the father of [one of the] deceased has heard the collision, he’s hopped onto a quad bike himself, and has ridden to the scene. He was probably 20 metres from the scene, and he also lost control of his bike,” he said.

A helmet could be seen at the scene of a crash in Grangefields that left two teenagers dead.Credit: Nine News

“We don’t know how the two children were injured. The family … has been unco-operative with police.

“Riding in these circumstances … if there’s kids on the bike, parents have got to look after these kids with correct riding equipment.”

The 43-year-old Altona Meadows man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Lineham said the teenagers involved would not have had their motorbike licence, but it was not illegal for teens to ride dirt bikes on private property. It is not known if the motorbikes were roadworthy.

A quad bike at the scene on Monday.Credit: Wayne Taylor

Omar El Houli, the uncle of the two dead teenagers, said the extended family was having a Father’s Day party before the crash.

“They’re beautiful kids, with absolutely beautiful parents,” he said. “It’s unfortunate what happened … hopefully they’re looking down on us from heaven.”

Neighbour Tom Pandza said the crash occurred right on dusk, when the visibility on Beattys Road had dropped. He said there was a large gathering at the property throughout the day.

“They were having a bit of fun with the dirt bikes and quad bikes, but it was starting to get dark,” he said.

Police at the crash scene overnight.Credit: Nine News

“I thought it was getting a bit dark to be riding at that stage, especially because the road here gets a lot of cars, which come through pretty quick.

“You do get a lot of cars speeding through here, and I actually worry for my kids when they go jogging down the road. I have to tell them to stay right off the road, on the nature strip.”

Pandza, who has lived on the road for 21 years, said the family involved had only recently moved into the house.

The narrow bitumen road where the collision occurs has a speed limit of 80km/h.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Sergeant Richard Wood said two young lives had been “tragically lost needlessly”.

“Motorcycles are not toys, they can be lethal weapons,” he said.

The major collision investigation unit is still working to figure out the exact circumstances of the collision and has appealed for witnesses, dashcam or CCTV footage.

Anyone with information or video can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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