The family of an Aboriginal teenager who was killed after his dirt bike collided with an unmarked police car are demanding an independent investigation into the fatal crash.
Jai Wright, 16, died from serious injuries after his trail bike crashed into an unmarked patrol car at an intersection in Alexandria in Sydney’s inner-city on Saturday.
The family of Jai Wright, 16, (pictured) are calling for an independent inquiry into his death
His grief-stricken family are now calling for a Coronial inquiry into the teen’s death after they claimed they were given conflicting information from authorities.
‘We’ve been given inconsistent information by police as to what caused our child’s death,’ Jai’s father Lachlan Wright said outside the Royal Prince Alfred hospital on Monday.
‘Any parent wants to know how their little boy has died. That is why we are calling for entirely independent inquiry away from the police.’
Mr Wright claimed police initially said his son was involved in a pursuit before an unmarked police car pulled out in front of Jai as he rode the motorcycle through a bike lane.
He said another officer later told him there was never a pursuit, and that Jai lost control before hitting a police car that was parked behind an Uber.
Mr Wright, the operations manager of the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, claimed police had been ‘really dismissive’ to him and refused to give his family CCTV of the crash.
Police alleged in a statement they spotted two suspected stolen vehicles – one of which a 2019 Sherco trail bike – near Enmore Road and King Street, Newtown on Saturday morning.
‘The trail bike was last seen turning right into Sydney Park Road, Alexandria,’ it said in a statement.
Jai Wright’s father Lachlan (left) pictured with Jai’s brother Kaidyn (right) on Monday as they addressed a press conference outside Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
‘Shortly after, about 7.35am, the same trail bike collided with an unmarked police vehicle at the intersection of Henderson and Mitchell Roads, Alexandria.’
The electrical apprentice was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital but died on Sunday afternoon from serious head injuries.
CCTV footage showed a motorcycle riding through the bike lane moments before the collision.
A critical incident team is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the death with the incident subject to an independent review.
An outpouring of grief has flowed from the community with a memorial painted by Kalani Ryan in honour of the teen at St Peters train station (pictured)
The crash has drawn parallels with the death of Indigenous teenager TJ Hickey, 17, who was impaled on a fence in nearby Waterloo after being pursued on his bike by two police paddy wagons in 2004.
That death sparked a night of rioting in inner-city Redfern, during which more than 50 police officers were injured.
An Instagram group has since been created by frustrated mourners calling for justice over Jai’s death.
Jai Wright, 16, was killed after his dirt bike crashed into an unmarked police car in Alexandria in Sydney’s inner-city at 7.35am on Saturday morning. Pictured is the scene of the collision
The family of Jai Wright are pictured at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on Monday
The Alexandria crash has drawn parallels with the death of Indigenous teenager TJ Hickey, 17, (pictured) who was impaled on a fence after a police pursuit in 2004
The group has planned to march on Friday, starting from Jai’s memorial in South Eveleigh through to Waterloo and Redfern police station.
An outpouring of grief has flowed from the community with a memorial painted by Kalani Ryan in honour of the teen on Muriel Street at St Peters Train Station
Jai’s aunt Celeste Wright said her heart had been ‘shattered into a billion pieces’ because of the fatal crash.
‘I can’t seem to get my head around this – my boy – I keep telling myself to wake up from this horrible dream. It can’t be real,’ she posted on Facebook.
CCTV footage captured the moments before and after Saturday’s collision in Alexandria
The teenager’s uncle Thomas Wright wrote online that he was ‘broken’ and ‘shattered’ by the loss of his loved one.
‘God bless you my nephew RIP now till we find each other on the other side,’ he said.
Jai had recently started training to become an electrician after finishing Year 10.
His father said Jai was ‘funny and quirky’ and named after South Sydney Rabbitohs junior footballer Jai Jago – who was shot dead as he walked home with a friend in April 2001.
NSW Police said the force would not comment on the father’s claims due to the active investigation.
