The teenager killed in a police pursuit in the Hunter region has been identified as 17-year-old Ryelee Brain.
Ryelee was the front-seat passenger of a stolen vehicle being driven by a 14-year-old boy when it crashed following a police pursuit late last week. Several other people were also inside the car, including a 25-year-old woman.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but Ryelee could not be saved. The 14-year-old driver and the other occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and remain under police investigation.
A critical incident has been declared, with detectives from the Homicide Squad’s Critical Incident Investigation Team examining the circumstances of the pursuit and the crash. The investigation will also be independently reviewed by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, as is standard protocol.
In the wake of the tragedy, Ryelee’s family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs. Organiser Haylee Mills described him as a “bright and loving boy” whose sudden death has left his family devastated.
“Any support, no matter the size, would mean the world to our family during this incredibly difficult time,” the fundraiser states.
The fundraiser can be found here: GoFundMe – Support Ryelee Brain’s Funeral Costs