Rider died in Medowie this weekend

[simon burkeMember]

Very,very well said Husky.
Condolances to all involved.Sad day.
Bol

[Anonymous]

IT was any given Sunday for keen trail bike rider Shane Richardson when he jumped on his machine and headed off for a weekend ride.
Just like he had done countless times since his family had moved to Medowie 10 years ago, the 17-year-old free spirit headed off to chase the adrenalin rush he felt as he rode through the bush surrounding the Port Stephens town.

But the teenager was never to return: he died in a freak head-on accident with another rider in the Medowie State Forest.

“He has been riding since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, he was passionate about it,” grieving mum Donna said about the eldest son she lost on Mother’s Day.

Father Michael said: “He was a good rider, I just knew he was a very competent rider and he knew that bush like the back of his hand.

“He would just head out for half an hour or so to get his adrenalin rush and come home.

“He loved his bikes, he loved his cars and he loved his music.

“I can’t believe he is gone.”

Crash investigators will look into how Shane and a 44-year-old man came to collide head-on on the dirt track about 10.45am.

The older man, who was thrown 11 metres, suffered two compound fractures to his right arm and was flown to hospital.

But despite the frantic efforts of fellow riders who were with the injured man, Shane succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

His bike was not registered and Shane was not carrying identification, so it was not until a friend came across the scene after failing to raise him that police were able to break the news to his family.

Within hours, dozens of friends had congregated at the family’s Medowie home to mourn the loss of the popular former Irrawang High School student.

“I didn’t even know he had that many friends,” Mr Richardson said yesterday.

Best mate Luke Smith spoke of a friend who “wasn’t a man of words, he was a man of actions”.

“If you didn’t know him you were going to know him,” Luke said.

“He was a real character.”

Shane followed in his dad’s footsteps in harbouring a love of working with his hands before joining his father working at Tomago firm Kyzac Powdercoating about three months ago.

He had rebuilt cars and bikes and had bought his latest machine – for an engine and $50.

[vivMember]

he’s was a great friend of mine, i miss him so much.. i just hope that his family and other friends will get through all of this.. i know its hard but so many people loved him and still lvoe him… not a day goes past wherei dont think about him.. i love you lil man..

[GregMember]

Hi Blondie and welcome to the site. Sorry for your loss and pain thanks for sharing. It highlights the sad yet true side to our sport. Again sorry for your loss

TB

[Paul FaheyMember]

How sad to see such a young life lost – whatever the cause.

This is the tragic cost of our sport, whether we hit a tree or another rider. It sucks but it is the reality of action sports. Unfortunately we have a very marginal connection with this world. As the father of four teenage boys I feel the pain of this terrible result of a young man’s innocent pursuit of pleasure. I feel so sorry for his family and friends but I hope they understand the passion that drove this kid to go for his regular blat.

I hope the other fellow is okay – it will be a terrible thing to live with!! It would knock me around.

I read locally that a young guy at Ellenborough cleaned up a 4wd on the weekend. I understand he survived but I dont believe he is in a good way.

Unfortunately all this “bad press” does not do our sport or our claims of excessive insurance any favours.

At the end of the day we are the ones out there and we have a duty of care to each other. I cannot see authorities ever regulating trail riding, I am sure it would be an easier option to ban the activity – and I bet there would be a lot of people happy about that. So we need to be responsible and self regulate in the interest of the longevity of our sport.

We all need to take care, safe riding to you all. The buck stops with us.

Unit

[Mick DMember]

THe young bloke that hit the 4×4 here on the weekend has a broken shoulder,broken femur, multiple fractures to his arm and some internal injuries. He is lucky to be alive as he wasn’t wearing a helmet either,he was on a unregoed bike on a main road. By all reports he had it coming, a know motorcycle thief with a blatant disrespect for the law. Last year he made off with a client of mine’s bike.Karma me thinks.

[Bruce CurtisMember]

Welcome Blondie, I echo my compadres’ respectful condolences

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

THe young bloke that hit the 4×4 here on the weekend has a broken shoulder,broken femur, multiple fractures to his arm and some internal injuries. He is lucky to be alive as he wasn’t wearing a helmet either,he was on a unregoed bike on a main road. By all reports he had it coming, a know motorcycle thief with a blatant disrespect for the law. Last year he made off with a client of mine’s bike.Karma me thinks.

On a completely seperate note from the young bloke in the original post.
Not often you will hear me utter this Michael, but yep if anyone has it coming it was probably the type of mongrel you speak of.
But will he learn?

[NADIAMember]

I DOUBT THAT ANY ONE STILL READS THIS POST BUT JUST IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIS NAME WAS SHANE HE WAS 17 IT WAS GOING TO BE HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY IN JUNE
HE WAS CRAZY ABOUT MOTOS AND SNAKES . VERY FULL ON BUT ALSO VERY SMART.
HE LOVED FAST CARS AND LOUD MUSIC.
HE HAS A LITTLE BROTHER AND A MUM , DAD AND FRIENDS THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING TO GET HIM BACK.
THIS TRADGEDY HAS HIT HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY HARD SINCE THAT DAY AND I CAN SAY I WILL NEVER SEE MOTHERS DAY ANY DIFFRENT THAN A VIST TO MY BEST FRIENDS GRAVE I MISS HIM SO MUCH.
I JUST ASK THAT EVERY ONE WHO RIDES JUST BE WARY OFF EVERY THING AROUND YOU. BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
SO RIDE SAFE BOYS !!( AND GIRLS )

RIP S.A.R I MISS YOU BUDDY FOR EVER IN MY HEART (L)

[GregMember]

Very touching and so true

R.I.P

[Mick DMember]

Thanks for the update and the reminder.

[Author]

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