A teenager killed when a ute smashed into a tree in a late-night crash on the Northern Beaches has been identified, as grieving loved ones lay flowers to form a memorial at the scene. Cohen Griggs-Bufton, 16, was the front passenger in the Toyota HiLux when it lost control in wet conditions and slammed into a tree on Cabbage Tree Rd, Bayview about 12.20am on Saturday. Griggs-Bufton was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital but died later on Saturday morning.
Grieving friends gathered at a memorial shrine by the tree later on Saturday, laying flowers and skateboards with messages of love. Northern Beaches Police commander Patrick Sharkey said the scene was “chaotic” and traumatic, with the boys suffering “serious” crash injuries. He said the ute was carrying six people but only had seatbelts for five. “It appears that two of the occupants had been ejected from the vehicle,” he said on Saturday.