A teenage girl is fighting for life and a 16-year-old boy may lose his leg following a horrific road accident at Berkeley overnight.
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The boy was at the controls of a unregistered trailbike that "exploded" after colliding head-on with a car on Hertford Street shortly after 11:30pm Sunday.
The bike's 17-year-old female passenger was not wearing a helmet as she was thrown at least 10 metres down the road, suffering a life-threatening head injury.
The duo had departed a gathering at a nearby home shortly before they crashed and the accident site was quickly flooded with up to 30 people, creating what police have described as "a highly emotionally-charged environment" that distressed working paramedics and may yet result in criminal charges unrelated to the crash.
The first two arriving paramedics had to choose which of the teens to treat first. NSW Ambulance's Illawarra duty manager Norm Rees said the officers were abused by bystanders and the injured rider himself, after they chose to tend to the lifeless girl.
"The trained paramedics did a quick scene assessment and they went to the unconscious female lying in the gutter, as opposed to the male who was yelling abuse," Inspector Rees said.
"Both of them had significant injuries, but one was conscious and yelling at paramedics. The other was unconscious and didn't have a patent airway. Paramedics also copped some abuse from bystanders.
"They're highly trained officers. They go to do a job, then they've got bystanders who may or may not be under the influence of illicit substances, telling them what they want."
The unlicensed bike rider suffered serious leg injuries and was taken to Wollongong Hospital in an ambulance. He was later airlifted to St George Hospital, where he remained on Monday in a serious but stable condition.
The girl remains in a critical condition at Wollongong Hospital.
The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man, was not injured and was taken to Shellharbour Hospital for mandatory testing.
Detective Superintendant Dean Smith, of Lake Illawarra Police District, said police had been unable to speak with either of the injured teens. The circumstances leading up to the crash will form part of the police investigation.
"We believe they came from a residence in Berkeley, where there was a gathering," Supt Smith told reporters on Monday. "Obviously we are still speaking to those occupants of that residence and working through the circumstances of how they came to be at the house and more importantly how they came to be on the motorbike together at the time the accident happened."
"This situation is absolutely tragic. We never, ever want to see young people involved in life-threatening activities and clearly where we are at now is we have lives in the balance. The riding of unregistered trail bikes, at that time of night, without protecitve equipment and for unknown reasons ... is a very dangerous activity."
The Mercury understands the eastbound bike had just gone over the crest of a hill moments before it collided with the car.
Mick McKinnon is among Hertford Street residents who have campaigned to have the roadway widened, or fitted with speedhumps, after witnessing numerous collisions and near-misses.
"That tree's been hit, that tree, that tree," he said, pointing to the sites of past accidents. "We've been waiting for someone to get killed here every since we moved here 40 years ago."
A neighbour reported hearing the roar of a bike, then a bang on Sunday night.
Another resident said he recognised the badly damaged bike.
"We've seen that bike here a lot before," he told the Mercury.
"I've seen it [being ridden] on one wheel."
Supt Smith praised the paramedics and police officers who attended.
"It was a highly emotional, highly distressing scene for them to be confronted with."
"We understand it was an emotional situation. Family and friends want to make sure that their loved ones were OK, however their actions can hinder what we want to do and what we need to achieve at that scene."
Asked whether any of those involved in the aftermath could face charges, he replied: "At this point in time that's part of an ongoing investigation. We'll be speaking to those present and looking at the actions that were taken at the scene."
Inspector Rees said Sunday night's first-on-scene paramedics were being supported.
"It certainly put more stress onto my paramedics, doubting themselves and whether they made the right decision. I had a debrief with them because they were both very upset."
"We are using all available internal resources to look after the welfare of our staff."
Police are calling for any witnesses to the collision - particularly anyone with video footage - to contact Lake Illawarra police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
