A 14-year-old Aboriginal boy is dead after an incident near Kalgoorlie.

Police responded to reports of a crash in bushland in Boulder on Monday morning, and discovered the 14-year-old’s body. It’s believed he came off a motorbike that was reported stolen at the weekend.

His death is the third to shatter his family in recent weeks.

A 55-year-old man has been refused bail and will face Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court later on Tuesday.

The arrested man was driving and allegedly involved in the crash. Police would not say whether the Nissan he was driving and the motorcycle made direct contact with each other or how the crash occurred.

However, they have confirmed a link between the Nissan and the owner of the stolen motorbike that was found at the scene.

Attempts to save the boy at the scene failed and he died on the scrub where he was found.

The West Australianreported tyre marks from a vehicle were clearly visible along the route the teenager is thought to have taken from the road into the scrub.

Many people in Kalgoorlie believe the incident was racially motivated. Community members gathered at the death scene and lit a small fire, while police — who had earlier established a crime scene — left.

An aunt of the boy told the The West Australian the boy’s death was the third to have rocked his family in the past few weeks.

“He survived all circumstances he found himself in and was a beautiful brother to the sisters he protected,” she said.

“He was a very happy-go-lucky kid. He was never a bad kid. He was always someone who lifted other people’s spirits whenever times were hard.”

Kalgoorlie detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperswa.com.au

andrew.koubaridis@news.com.au