An 18-year-old jockey has tragically died in a dirtbike accident. 

New Zealand rider Ngakau Hailey was killed during a collision with a car in Hamilton on Wednesday. 

The incident took place at the cross roads between Willoughby Street and Mill Street at around 3.25pm.

The young rider, who has been described as ‘a lovable kid’ and had ‘the sky ahead of him’, suffered critical injuries in the accident and was rushed to hospital where he later passed away. 

Local reports say two other individuals were injured in the crash and were taken to hospital after sustaining moderate injuries.

‘It’s tragic, words just can’t describe it. I was talking with him on Monday and then this happens,’ Thoroughbred Racing Northern Riding Master, Noel Harris, told Love Racing NZ. 

Hailey had worked as an apprentice to trainer Debbie Sweeney. 

The promising jockey was hailed as a future star having recorded his first win aboard Chattahoochee at Cambridge back in 2023. 

His last race came on July 5 at Tauranga aboard Magnakata. 

Sweeney told Stuff that his passing would be a ‘massive’ loss to the horse racing community. 

‘He was just a great kid, lovable kid. Had a great personality,’ she said. 

Te Akau Racing trainer David Ellis told the outlet that Hailey was ‘a super young man’. 

He added: ‘The sky was ahead of him.’ 

Shaun Phelan, a former jockey who now works as a trainer, said that a minute’s silence had been held for the young man at Cambridge on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the Waikato Junior Rugby League team published a tribute to the 18-year-old on Facebook. 

They wrote: ‘Rugby league community is sad to hear the passing of Ngakau Hailey . Such a talented young league player and a young boy who loved giving anything and everything a go.

‘Waikato Rugby league community send our love and condolences to Ngakau’s whanau and many many friends.

The statement added: ‘Rest with the best Ngakau may you forever rest in loving peace.’

A Givealittle page has been created by a friend of Hailey’s family and has raised over NZ$21,000 to help support his family through the tragedy. 

‘A naturally gifted young man with a bright future taken away from us so soon,’ the Givealittle page read. 

More to follow…