A Wollongong teenager who was killed when his motorbike collided with a car in Mt Warrigal on Wednesday was only days away from turning 18.
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Now Adrian Voltz's family will spend Christmas without him, mourning his death rather than celebrating his birthday on Boxing Day.
He is being remembered as a young man who loved motorbikes, his family and friends.
Adrian's uncle Oliver Raymen described his nephew as his best mate and can't believe he has passed away so young.
Mr Raymen said Adrian's parents and siblings were hoping to "wake up from this nightmare" and were still coming to terms with the tragedy, and Adrian not being with them anymore.
"I'm still in shock and in complete disbelief that this has actually happened," he said.
"Instead of celebrating Christmas time, we will grieve the death of my sister's kid. He was the most beautiful boy with the biggest heart in the world.
"At 17 he wasn't interested in girls, but motorbikes were his life. Adrian loved everything about them and could build one from scratch and used to ride like a demon.
"The fact this happened on the back of a bike is quite a shock."
Mr Raymen said Adrian "lived life to the fullest".
"He was fun, as loyal as they come and he loved his mum more than anyone. He stood by her through everything," he said.
"School wasn't really his thing but he loved family and motorbikes. He was always there for his mum and sister. He was always trying to be the man of the house and he took that role very seriously. Family was the most important thing to him.
"He was loving, caring, loyal and compassionate.
"He could be a ratbag too. Adrian had a lot of fun picking on me. I will miss those times."
Mr Raymen lived with Adrian throughout his life and only moved away to Nowra recently but they remained close.
"I was only with him a couple of nights ago," he said. "We used to hang out a lot. We would go for walks, and we would love riding motorbikes or pushbikes.
"He was the best friend I ever had. I love and miss him."
Emergency services were called to the corner of Madigan Boulevard and Lake Entrance Road with reports a motorcycle had collided with a car about 5.45am.
The bike was destroyed, its debris strewn across the intersection.
The driver of the vehicle, a grey sedan, was a 61-year-old woman who was taken to Wollongong Hospital for mandatory testing.
Police are yet to confirm whether the motorbike was stolen or if Adrian was wearing a helmet.
Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District cordoned off streets around the scene for several hours, with traffic diversions in place as forensics and specialist police collected evidence.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Funeral plans and ways to honour Adrian's life are yet to be confirmed. Adrian's father wanted his son's friends to attend any celebrate of his life.
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