POLICE believe speed and alcohol were to blame for a fatal motorbike crash which killed two local men in Tingha.
The 20 and 22-year-old were discovered on the side of the Copes Creek Road early on Thursday morning by a passerby after crashing their bike several hours earlier.
The pair, who weren't wearing helmets, were thrown almost 25 metres from the trail bike and died at the scene.
"For a small community like Tingha to lose two young men from well known Aboriginal families, it is pretty devastating," Inverell Chief Inspector Rowan O'Brien told Fairfax Media.
Police and emergency services rushed to the road just before 8am after the men were discovered.
"A resident of Tingha was out walking [on Thursday] morning when she discovered the two deceased males and the motorcycle along the road," Chief Inspector O'Brien said.
"At this stage, we believe that the motor collision occurred between 1 and 2am on Thursday morning.
"It appears excessive speed was a contributing factor along with alcohol.
"And, neither of the deceased were wearing helmets."
A crime scene was set up and the road closed to traffic while police examined the area. Investigations by officers has revealed the trail bike was unregistered.
Police said initial examinations at the scene suggest the bike left the road and crashed into a culvert, ejecting the pair.
The horrific crash has left the wider Tingha community reeling.
There were emotional scenes on the side of the road on Thursday morning as family and friends gathered once the shock news spread.
"We were able to take a number of family members through the scene and indicate to them what we believe has occurred," Chief Inspector O'Brien said.
“And, we will be working with those families now to prepare a brief for the coroner.”
"My condolences go out to the immediate and the extended families and to the Tingha community as a whole."
The road was closed for several hours while police carried out investigations but has since reopened.
