Was Brad, 14, riding stolen motorbike in car collision?
POLICE are investigating whether a motorbike a 14year-old boy was riding when he was involved in a fatal crash was stolen.
Brad Williamson was killed after the white Vertigo bike he was riding collided with a car in Edinburgh on Friday.
Another 14-year-old passenger on the bike remains in hospital in a serious condition.
Police are now attempting to establish how the two underage boys came to be riding the trail bike on a public road, and confirmed that one line of inquiry is whether the vehicle was stolen.
The accident happened at around 4pm on Silverknowes Road. The bike collided with a black Toyota Aygo as both vehicles travelled north on the road, about four miles northwest of the city centre.
Brad became stuck under the car and had to be cut free by fire crews. He was suffering from bleeding on the brain and serious burns, and went into a coma.
Passers-by described seeing the driver of the car shocked and crying afterwards. Brad was taken to the city’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children, but died later that night, surrounded by his family.
It is understood the other boy’s injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.
Brad’s family and friends have now paid tribute to him on social media. His cousin, Tricia Fleming, posted: ‘A beautiful boy taken far too soon. Sleep tight little cousin. You were the best ever and you are going to be missed by many.’
His brother, Kevin, said: ‘You will always be in my heart. The hardest part wasn’t getting that phone call or waiting tensely for eight hours whilst your wee head was getting surgery, or saying my last words to you, the hardest part was walking out of there and leaving you alone knowing that you would soon be getting cold and you hated the cold.
‘But I will see you soon mate, so you take care of our daddy up there and I’ll take care of our mummy and grandma down here.’
Affectionately known as ‘wee Brad’ by family and friends, the teenager was a keen Hibernian fan and pupil of Craigroyston High School.
Dozens of flowers and cards have been left at the scene of the accident and more than 600 people have liked a Facebook page in memory of Brad.
PC Declan Fitzpatrick, of Edinburgh’s Road Policing Unit, said: ‘Our inquiries continue into this collision and our thoughts remain with Brad’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
‘We’d ask any witnesses who have not yet come forward to get in touch.
‘We’re still working to trace the driver of a white Mercedes limousine-style car on Silverknowes Road at the time, who may be able to assist.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
‘You were taken far too soon’