The grieving mother of a young motorcyclist killed in a crash minutes from home has recalled her final conversation with him and vowed to ensure his death wont be in vain.
Ethan Griffiths, 21, died after colliding with a freight train at a railway crossing in Yenda in southern NSWs Riverina region on September 2.
The apprentice mechanic was a few kilometres from home after a 570km ride from Sydney where hed been visited his father when tragedy struck.
One week on, Jamie Griffiths is now lobbying for safety upgrades to the crossing that claimed her sons life and appealed for sweeping improvements to rail lines across country NSW.
She received her last text from Ethan three hours before the crash when he stopped for a break in Yass.
He told her he was safe, as he regularly did while making rest stops, he said hed next update her once hed made it back to the home, according to 7news.com.au.
Its a bit windy so ride carefully, Ms Griffith replied.
She had no idea it would be no idea the last time she would hear from her eldest son.
Ethan Griffiths was killed in a collision between his motorbike and a freight train near his home
He was on the final leg of a long ride home from visiting his father in Sydney when he was killed
The family had faced unbearable tragedy and hardship since Mr Griffiths death.
Just last week, my eldest son, Ethan, who was only 21, lost his life in a devastating and avoidable accident when he was hit by a freight train at a hazardous rail crossing just minutes from home, she wrote in an online appeal for support.
The crossing had no lights, bells, or gates to warn of oncoming trains—something that no family should ever have to face.
Losing Ethan has been the hardest thing I have ever endured, and our lives will never be the same without him.
Jaime Griffiths last heard from the eldest son Ethan three hours before tragedy struck
She said she would campaign for rail crossing improvements in Ethans honour.
No one should have to endure the pain weve gone through, and I am committed to raising awareness and pushing for safety measures like lights, bells, and gates at all hazardous crossings.
Ms Griffiths said Ethan was a talented apprentice mechanic who soaked up knowledge and had a thirst for learning.
He played a fatherly role to his three younger siblings.
He was a mentor to them and looked out for them at school and in social situations, she told 7news.com.au.
He was a genuine big brother who always put his brothers and sisters first.
Ethans mother has vowed to fight for road safety to help prevent future accidents
There are more than 23,000 railway level crossings across Australia, where roads or footpaths intersect train tracks.
Around 80 per cent are classified as passive, meaning they rely solely on stop or give way signs without boom gates or flashing lights to alert road users of approaching trains.
From July 2014 to the end of 2022, Australia recorded 322 collisions at railway crossings, according to a train safety petition submitted to federal parliament in July.
The incidents led to 39 fatalities involving road users and pedestrians, while 49 others sustained serious injuries.
Thousands of additional near-misses were also reported.