Two teens dead and a third in hospital after electric bike crash with four cars
TWO teenagers were killed and a third was in a serious condition in hospital last night after their electric motorbike was in a crash with four cars.
Marcus Beck, 17, and Gregor Booth, 16, were pronounced dead at the scene on the A941 between Elgin and Lossiemouth, Moray, at around 8pm on Monday.
Their 14-year-old friend, who was driving the e-motorbike, remained in hospital last night. His condition was described as stable.
A 54-year-old man, who was driving a blue Vauxhall Mokka, was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin for treatment and later released.
No one else was injured in the smash, which happened, at the junction of the A941 with the B9135.
Police said the boys who died were both pillion passengers on the e-motorbike when the tragedy happened.
Police are now appealing for anyone with dashcam footage or other information about the crash to come forward.
Sergeant Iain Nicolson said: ‘Our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of the two teenagers who died and they need privacy at what is a very upsetting and difficult time.
‘Our investigation into the crash is ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who has not already spoken to officers and who has any information to help with our inquiries.
‘If you have dashcam or any
‘He loved going out and about’
thing else that could assist officers, then please get in touch.’
In a statement released through the police, Marcus’s family said: ‘Marcus was a young man who loved going out and about with his mates. He will be missed so very much by all of his family and his friends.
‘We cannot begin to explain what a shock this has been for everyone and we would like time to be able to come to terms with what has happened.’
Sergeant Nicolson added: ‘Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all involved. This is an incident that has also affected the wider community.’
Dozens of grief-stricken friends of the teenagers laid flowers at the scene yesterday.
Some walked the few miles from the two towns to pay their respects. Others got lifts from their parents. Many were in tears as they stood silently by the roadside to remember their friends.
One friend, who was studying carpentry and joinery with Marcus at college, described him as ‘some boy’.
He said: ‘He was very outgoing and always knew how to make you laugh. It still doesn’t feel real.’ He had walked from Elgin with another friend who described Elgin Academy pupil Gregor as ‘a character to say the least’.
They had shared the same circle of friends and he said: ‘We just wanted to pay our respects. It’s sad to hear that someone the same age as us has passed away.’
Flowers were neatly laid out on the grass verge beside the road. One message simply read: ‘We will miss you.’
One girl, who asked not to be named, said: ‘They were like brothers to me.
‘Gregor was so outgoing. He was funny and just a right laugh, and a wind-up as well. He loved hanging out with his friends.’
She added: ‘Marcus was brilliant. He was so funny. He loved to joke about. He was just a really amazing person.’
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said he and his wife were watching television when they heard a ‘bang’.
When they looked out they could see the lights of cars facing the wrong way. One car was on fire, and they called the emergency services.
He said: ‘It’s a fast road and it’s not the first accident. They could really do with putting a roundabout in there.’
It is understood the three boys had been travelling towards Lossiemouth and had reached the end of a cycle path at the side of the main road when the collision occurred.
The witness said: ‘When we heard the bang we looked and there was a blue car caught fire but we didn’t realise it was as serious as it was.
‘It’s hellish to think about. I went to bed about 11.30pm and there were still half a dozen police cars there and when we rose this morning the road was still closed. We counted ten lots of blue lights at one point.’
A red Renault Clio, a black Vauxhall Corsa and a white VW Golf were also involved but Police Scotland said no one else was injured.
Scottish Conservative Party leader and Moray MSP Douglas Ross wrote on social media platform X: ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of the two teenagers who have tragically lost their lives in such awful circumstances.’