‘Going to be more deaths’: Fatal crash sparks call for inquiry

The former carer of a Cairns orphan killed while joy-riding in a stolen car has demanded an inquiry into management of children in state care before more lives are lost.

THE former carer of a Cairns orphan killed while joy-riding in a stolen car has demanded an inquiry into management of children in state care before more lives are lost.

On February 14 this year Bradley Smith was a passenger in a stolen car when the Toyota Yaris lost control at high speed and crashed into a tree on Pease St, Manoora.

Tiarnie Mueller took Bradley under her wing after her daughter began dating his friend – to keep him off the street she acted as an informal carer for about three months in 2021.

Bradley Smith was a "kind and loving boy," according to his sister Samantha Chapman.

Ms Mueller said Bradley became part of the family and she felt a nurturing environment had a positive impact on the lad who was beginning to go off the rails.

“My daughter was dating Bradley’s friend and she brought them in (after) they were living on the streets, homeless,” she said.

“I took them fishing and took them to the beach and swimming. They loved fishing, and I got them cast nets and fishing rods.”

Then Child Safety stepped in and placed the 13-year-old at the time in a residential care home.

The scene of a fatal traffic crash at Manoora on February 14, 2022, where an allegedly stolen Toyota left Pease Street near the Saltwater Creek bridge and crash into a tree. A 14 year old boy was declared dead at the scene, and five other children aged 12 to 15 were taken to Cairns Hospital with injuries. Denise Weazael of Manoora lays some flowers at the scene of the crash. Picture: Brendan Radke

“These kids just love the company of a family unit and if I had support from these services then it would have made it a lot easier to look after him rather than them pressuring me to get him into their care,” she said.

“I had Child Safety putting the heavy on me.”

Ms Mueller said before taking Bradley in he had chosen to live on the street rather than be in what’s known as resi care but soon after being placed in an ITEC Group home in Whitfield the teen was absconding.

It’s not known if Bradley’s absence the night he died was reported to police or how he had been away from the home.

“I don’t blame the resi care home, staff or anything like that,” she said.

Bradley Smith with his sisters Samantha Chapman and Jessica Schirmer.

But the mother of three did believe the system needed to change.

“They can’t just be lenient and hope that (children) will be back in a few hours, in that time they could have stolen a car and killed someone or overdosed,” she said.

“These children should not be able to dictate where they want to self-place, these are minors and need adults making decisions for them.

“Especially if they are under the influence of drugs.

“There needs to be some sort of inquiry to overhaul (the system) the way things are going there is going to be more deaths.

“The government needs to look into building another facility, which caters to mental health, drug dependency and schooling.”

A Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman stated the Child Protection Act prevents the department from disclosing whether a child is known to the department when asked about circumstances that led to the death of Bradley Smith.

Questions regarding an inquest into the death of a child in state care went unanswered.

“All deaths of children in care are reported to the coroner as required by law. It would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts,” the spokeswoman said.

ITEC Group was contacted for comment, but had not responded.

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Originally published as ‘Going to be more deaths’: Fatal crash sparks call for inquiry