A teenage boy who survived the devastating Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy in 2021 has been killed in an e-bike accident in Tasmania on New Year's Eve.
A Fatal Collision on Don Heads Road
Lucas Reid, aged 15, lost control of his electric bicycle and collided with a pole on Don Heads Road, near Devonport, at approximately 7:30 pm on Wednesday, 31 December. A nearby resident rushed to assist, but the teenager died at the scene. Tasmania Police confirmed the incident involved a 15-year-old boy from Devonport.
Inspector Nick Clark described the death as "tragic," noting it was one of two separate road fatalities that day. "These events are tragic, tragic for everyone, especially the family and friends of these poor people who have passed away," Clark stated. Authorities found a helmet at the site, but it has not been confirmed whether Reid was wearing it at the time of the crash. Police are investigating, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
A Community Mourns a Resilient Young Life
The news has sent shockwaves through the Devonport community and the wider circle of those affected by the Hillcrest disaster. Reid was one of three children injured in the 2021 incident, in which six pupils—Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Peter Dodt—died after a freak wind gust dislodged a jumping castle.
Devonport Mayor Alison Jarman offered her profound condolences. "It's horrendous. It's a tragic event … a beautiful young 15-year-old boy," she said. "At the end of the day I just hope everyone out there can be kind and considerate and respectful of the situation."
Tasmanian MP Jane Howlett expressed the state government's solidarity, saying its "heart goes out to Lucas's family, his friends and his loved ones and all the Hillcrest community." She added, "It's absolutely devastating, it really is. And we will continue to support the Hillcrest family and Lucas's family."
Remembered for His Resilience and Passion
Lucas Reid has been remembered as a resilient and optimistic boy with a great passion for Australian Rules Football. He was a known supporter of the GWS Giants, who paid tribute to him following the accident.
Giants captain Toby Greene told the Mercury that Reid was a "great young man [who] had overcome so much." "His resilience and optimism really stood out," Greene said. The club's CEO, David Matthews, echoed this sentiment in an interview with Channel Seven, noting Reid possessed "resilience and energy." Matthews reflected, "The adversity that he got dealt was a massive blow in itself, but I think he wasn't going to let anything stop him."
The Hillcrest incident's operator was found not guilty of a workplace safety charge in June 2023. The latest loss has compounded the grief for a community still healing from the unimaginable tragedy of three years prior.
