Tragedy struck in Sydney’s western suburbs as two teenage boys lost their lives in a devastating accident involving a motorbike and a bus. The incident occurred on Monday evening when Adrian Lai, 15, and William Drake, 16, were riding their petrol-powered trail bike along the Liverpool-Parramatta Transitway in Bossley Park. Around 7:15 p.m., their bike collided with the side of a commuter bus.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered the teenagers trapped beneath the bus. Despite their efforts, both boys were pronounced dead at the site of the collision.
Soon after the accident, distressing footage emerged on social media, capturing paramedics frantically administering CPR to one of the teens in a desperate attempt to save his life.
The tragic loss prompted an outpouring of grief from friends who took to social media to pay tribute to Adrian and William, describing them as vibrant young men with a shared passion for trail riding. One friend poignantly reflected on having seen Adrian earlier that day, unaware it would be their final encounter.
Heartbroken friends flooded social media with tributes, remembering the pair as fun-loving boys and passionate trail riders.
One friend recalled seeing Adrian that same day and ‘not knowing it was going to be the last time’.
‘Rest in peace Adrian, one of the most funniest ones I knew.’
Another friend said: ‘William, never thought I’d lose you this early. Thank you for everything you taught me on the bike. I’d be nowhere near where I am without you.’
William Drake and Adrian Lai died on Monday when the motorcycle they were riding hit a bus
Within hours, harrowing footage began circulating on social media showing the motorcycle trapped beneath the front of the bus
The pair were riding tandem at the time of the crash
‘It’s a wake-up call to everyone – get rid of these bikes, they are not toys.
‘It kills to know you’re gone and doesn’t feel real.’
William’s older brother, Byron Drake, also shared his grief, thanking a family friend for posting a tribute.
‘Thank you so much for this video you have posted for my little bro,’ he wrote.
Friends have since organised a memorial ride in honour of the boys, set to take place on April 3 at Bankstown Airport, urging those attending to ‘ride safe and respect the day.’
The bus driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing following the crash and is believed to be traumatised by the accident.
Police confirmed neither the driver nor any passengers on board the bus were physically injured in the crash.
While the teenagers were initially believed to have been riding an e-bike, transport officials later confirmed it is now thought to have been a petrol-fuelled trail bike.
Adrian often posted pictures of himself performing stunts on his bike
The bike was wedged under the front of the bus
Friends have organised a ride in memory of the teens
Both boys regularly posted updates to their social media accounts showing them performing wheelies in the street and riding tandem.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was a tragic scene that would impact many.
‘We’ve got two young boys who won’t grow up, we’ve got two families who will grieve forever at the loss of their loved ones,’ he told Radio 2GB.
‘Importantly as well, we’ll have a bus driver who will be significantly impacted, and for our first response officers, our emergency services who have to attend these scenes, they are incredibly difficult to go to.
‘So our thoughts are very much with the families and certainly those impacted.’
The crash came just hours after NSW Police revealed they had issued 170 fines during a two-day operation targeting illegal e bikes in Sydney’s south last week.
Officers spoke to more than 215 e-bike and e-scooter riders last Wednesday and Thursday and issued a further 99 cautions.
‘More than 250 people were breath-tested and 26 people were drug-tested,’ police said in a statement on Monday morning.
Tributes poured in for the bestmates with classmates sharing their memories
The pair were well loved members of their bike community
The tragedy comes as new laws allowing NSW Police and Transport for NSW to seize and crush illegally modified e bikes are set to be introduced into parliament
‘There were five e-bike riders who tested positive to drugs.
‘Police laid five charges for criminal offences and 21 traffic charges.’
Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Anthony Boyd said officers take illegally modified e-bikes and dangerous riding seriously.
‘NSW Police will continue to conduct operations to prevent reckless riding where other road users and pedestrians are put at risk,’ Superintendent Boyd said.
It comes as new laws allowing NSW Police and Transport for NSW to seize and crush illegally modified e bikes are set to be introduced into parliament.
The proposed laws are aimed at curbing the growing use of throttle-only high-powered e-motorbikes, which authorities say are fuelling dangerous anti-social behaviour.
The legislation has been modelled on existing laws in Western Australia, where police already have the power to seize and destroy illegally modified bikes.
In an Australian first, the laws will also introduce roadside dyno units designed to detect whether an e-bike can exceed the 25km/h speed limit.
Transport Minister John Graham said the changes marked a significant step forward.
‘We don’t want to discourage safe and healthy e-bike use, but we do want to discourage dangerous and illegal e-motorbike use and these powers will do exactly that,’ he said.
