- A motorcyclist collided with a freight train
- Family remembers “talented” boy and fights for change
The grieving mother of a young motorcyclist who died in a crash minutes from her home has recalled her last conversation with him and vowed to ensure his death is not in vain.
Ethan Griffiths, 21, died after colliding with a freight train at a railway crossing at Yenda in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales on September 2.
The apprentice mechanic was just a few miles from home after a 570km journey from Sydney, where he had visited his father, when the tragedy occurred.
A week later, Jamie Griffiths is now pushing for safety improvements at the crossing that claimed her son’s life and calling for radical upgrades to rail lines across country New South Wales.
She received her last text message from Ethan three hours before the accident, when he stopped for a rest in Yass.
He told her he was safe, as he regularly did when he made rest stops, and that he would update her once he returned home, according to 7news.com.au.
“It’s a little windy, so drive carefully,” Mrs. Griffith replied.
She had no idea that this would be the last time she would hear from her eldest son.
Ethan Griffiths was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and a freight train near his home
He was on the final leg of a long journey home after visiting his father in Sydney when he was killed.
The family had faced “unbearable tragedy and hardship” since Mr Griffiths’ death.
“Last week, my oldest son, Ethan, who was just 21 years old, lost his life in a devastating and ‘preventable’ accident when he was struck by a freight train at a dangerous railroad crossing just minutes from his home,” she wrote in an online message. Call for support.
‘The crossing had no lights, bells or gates to warn of approaching trains – something no family should ever have to face.
“Losing Ethan has been the hardest thing I have ever endured, and our lives will never be the same without him.”
The last time Jaime Griffiths heard from his eldest son, Ethan, was three hours before the tragedy occurred.
He said he would campaign for improvements to the rail crossing “in honour of Ethan”.
“No one should have to endure the pain we have been through, and I am committed to raising awareness and promoting safety measures such as lights, bells and barriers at all dangerous intersections.”
Ms Griffiths said Ethan was a talented apprentice mechanic who “soaked up knowledge” and had a “thirst to learn”.
He played a fatherly role to his three younger siblings.
“He was their mentor and looked after them at school and in social situations,” she told 7news.com.au.
“He was a true big brother who always put his brothers and sisters first.”
Ethan’s mother has pledged to fight for road safety to help prevent future accidents.
There are more than 23,000 railway level crossings across Australia, where roads or footpaths intersect railway tracks.
About 80 percent are classified as passive, meaning they rely solely on stop or yield signs, with no barriers or flashing lights to alert road users of approaching trains.
From July 2014 to the end of 2022, Australia recorded 322 collisions at railway crossings, according to a rail safety petition submitted to federal parliament in July.
The incidents resulted in 39 deaths among road users and pedestrians, while 49 people were seriously injured.
Thousands more accidents were also reported.