The devastated family is desperate the 14-year-old’s death is not in vain — and they have an urgent warning to other troubled boys.

A heartbroken mother has issued a sobering plea to young criminals after her 14-year-old son was killed in a stolen car crash in Victoria.

Chereeta Wightman is desperate for the death of her son Connroy to not be in vain as her two young nephews face the fight of their lives in hospital.

Eighteen-year-old Dougie Sullivan, his little brother Deondre Hayes, 14, and their cousin Connroy Clark, 14, were all inside a stolen Hilux which crashed on the Calder Highway, in regional Victoria, on Saturday.

Police allege the Toyota Hilux was stolen from a hotel in Mildura at 11.30pm on Friday night.

Seven hours later, at 6.30am on Saturday, police allege it was involved in a fuel drive-off.

Then just before 10am, more than 300km away, the ute veered off the road and into a tree.

Dougie and Deondre were both critically injured. Connroy died at the scene.

“He was fun-loving, outgoing, a good-spirited kid, very respectful,” his mother Chereeta Wightman said.

Wightman said her 14-year-old son had had previous run-ins with the law.

“We’ve tried so hard to keep Connroy on a straight and narrow and to keep him out of trouble,” Wightman said.

“If people actually knew these boys’ story and what they went through growing up, they would understand,” their aunty added.

The boys now have to deal with the consequences, especially Dougie, who was the driver.

“At the end of the day, he’s got to live with what he’s done, you know. I feel for him. I feel for both the boys, all of them, and my son,” Wightman said.

The family is now hoping this story serves as a warning to other troubled teens.

“Our boys, they are loving boys. Yeah, they made the wrong choice, but people shouldn’t go judging them,” the boys’ aunty Maryanne Frost said.

“It just takes one little mistake. Then your family’s suffering, and then we’ve got to go through the pain of burying yous.”

Eighteen-year-old Dougie has since undergone surgery at The Alfred Hospital.

He has lost the lower part of his right leg and doctors will need to decide if any more needs to be amputated.

He has very serious injuries, including broken ribs and a bleed on the brain.

His 14-year-old brother is in the ICU at the Royal Children’s Hospital, with doctors extremely concerned about a bleed and swelling on his brain.

The family has set up a fundraiser as they face a long road to recovery.

SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/heartbroken-mothers-plea-to-young-criminals-after-14yo-dies-in-stolen-car-crash-in-regional-victoria-c-22298403