‘My little boy': The 15-year-old with a cheeky grin, whose death devastated a town
He was 'a lover, not a fighter', a sweet kid, and his mother Bianca Mclaren's whole 'world'.
'He was my little boy. Now I feel lost,' she told The Age on Tuesday night.
Taj was a passenger in a car carrying three teenagers, which hit a tree near the corner of Murphys Lane and Bonang-Orbost Road, north of the east Gippsland town of Orbost, about 12.20am on Tuesday.
He and his mate, 18-year-old Zane Oldis – who was driving – died at the scene. A third boy, aged 16, was taken to Bairnsdale Hospital with minor injuries.
The town is reeling after the boys' deaths, while Bianca mourns the loss of her funny, kind and gentle son. She'll miss his big heart, and taking walks with their Jack Russell Terriers, named Storm and Rocket.
Taj leaves behind an older brother, Bo, along with classmates at Orbost Community College, where all the teenagers attended. Zane had left the school before the crash.
'We've had lots of messages from the whole town,' Mclaren said.
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