Teen dies in bike smash

AFTERMATH: Police at the scene where an 18-year-old was killed after colliding with a truck on the Brisbane Valley Highway.

Melanie Maeseele

AN 18-year-old motorcyclist died on the Brisbane Valley Highway yesterday when his bike smashed into the side of a turning truck.

Ipswich man Brayden Playford was riding his motorcycle along the road at Wanora, about 15km north-west of Ipswich, at 5.40am when the crash occurred.

Senior Sergeant John McCrae said an off-duty paramedic who lives opposite the crash scene rushed to help the rider, but he died at the scene.

Officers notified the teen's parents, who arrived at the site of the crash shortly after 7am.

“The family are obviously very devastated,” Snr Sgt McCrae said.

The teen's mum, dad, brother and sister-in-law helped to console one another as they walked through the scattered wreckage of the motorcycle.

It is understood the boy had just left his home in Karrabin and was on his way to work at Fernvale.

“The boy's mother is very upset.

“SHE told him not to buy the motorcycle,” Snr Sgt McCrae said.

A resident along the section of highway said he woke to “an almighty smash”.

“I didn't know what it was at first but then I heard the sound of a truck stopping and looked outside and saw the commotion,” the man said.

“I went down there but there was nothing I could do. An off-duty paramedic was already checking his vitals but unfortunately he was already gone.”

Snr Sgt McCrae said a truck had pulled out of a driveway and on to the 100kmh section of road on his way to Ipswich when the motorcyclist travelling south-bound collided with the rear wheels of the truck's trailer.

“At this stage we are unsure of exactly what happened. We don't know if speed was a factor or why the truck driver didn't see him,” he said.

The truck driver was uninjured but treated at the scene for shock.

The highway was partially closed for several hours with traffic diverted around the crash site.

Snr Sgt McCrae said it was the fourth fatal in the Ipswich police district this year.

The police forensic crash unit is investigating and wants to talk to anyone who may have seen a silver and black motorcycle displaying green provisional plates travelling from Wulkuraka Connection Road to Wanora yesterday morning.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.