A mother’s heartbreaking last text to her son before he died in a motorcycle accident at a railroad crossing

The grieving mother of a young motorcyclist killed in a crash just a stone’s throw from her home recalls her last conversation with him and has vowed to make sure his death is not in vain.

Ethan Griffiths, 21, died on September 2 after colliding with a freight train at a level crossing in Yenda in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales.

The apprentice mechanic was a few kilometres from home after a 570km drive from Sydney, where he had visited his father, when disaster struck.

A week later, Jamie Griffiths is lobbying for improved safety at the level crossing where her son died, and for major improvements to rail lines across New South Wales.

She received her last text from Ethan three hours before the accident, when he was taking a break in Yass.

He told her he was safe, as he often did during rest stops, and said he would let her know when he got home, according to 7news.com.au.

“It’s a bit windy, so drive carefully,” Mrs. Griffith replied.

She had no idea that this would be the last time she would hear from her eldest son.

Ethan Griffiths was killed when his motorcycle collided with a freight train near his home

He was on the last leg of a long drive home from visiting his father in Sydney when he was killed

Since Mr Griffiths’ death, the family have faced “unbearable tragedy and hardship”.

“Just last week my eldest son, Ethan, who was only 21, lost his life in a devastating and ‘preventable’ accident when he was struck by a freight train at a dangerous railroad crossing just minutes from his home,” she wrote in an online call for support.

‘There were no lights, bells or gates at the crossing to warn of approaching trains. No family should ever have to experience that.

“Losing Ethan is the hardest thing I have ever experienced, and our lives will never be the same without him.”

Jaime Griffiths last heard from his eldest son Ethan three hours before tragedy struck

She said she would campaign for improvements to the level crossings ‘in honour of Ethan’.

“No one should have to endure the pain we have endured. I would like to raise awareness and push for safety measures such as lights, bells and barriers at all dangerous crossings.”

Mrs Griffiths said Ethan was a talented apprentice mechanic who ‘learned knowledge’ and had a ‘thirst for knowledge’.

He played a fatherly role to his three younger siblings.

“He was a mentor to them and looked after them in school and in social situations,” she told 7news.com.au.

“He was a real big brother who always put his siblings first.”

Ethan’s mother has vowed to fight for road safety to prevent future accidents

There are more than 23,000 railway crossings in Australia, where roads or footpaths cross railway tracks.

About 80 percent of trains are classified as passive, meaning they rely solely on stop or give way signs, with no barriers or flashing lights to warn road users of approaching trains.

According to a petition on rail safety tabled in federal parliament in July, Australia recorded 322 level crossing collisions between July 2014 and the end of 2022.

The incidents left 39 road users and pedestrians dead, while 49 others were seriously injured.

Thousands of other near-misses were reported.