Police reveal shocking new details of triple fatality on Brisbane Rd, Arundel
Friends of the victims of a horrific triple fatality have taken to social media in an outpouring of grief, as police reveal the potential cause of the crash.
Gold Coast
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Police are investigating whether drugs played a role in a harrowing crash that claimed the lives of three people, as tributes pour out for those who were killed.
Lisa Roggenkamp, 47, Linda Whitby, 48, driver Craig Piper, 50 and died when the black sedan they were in crashed into a power pole after colliding with a truck carrying a boat at Arundel on Tuesday.
Above photos of her and Ms Whitby on Facebook, Nicole wrote: “Miss you sis ... RIP.”
A front seat passenger, Oliver Olibson, 49, survived the crash. Tributes have begun to flow on social media.
“RIP Lisa Roggenkamp, heaven just got an angel,” one friend posted.
“Condolences to all your family, you will be missed my special friend. Taken to (sic) young.”
Her sister Nicole, and daughter, Taylor, were among those to post touching tributes on social media.
“Missing you already Mum ... rest in peace knowing you’re in a better place,” Taylor posted on Instagram.
A key part of the police investigation is whether the driver consumed heroin shortly before the crash.
Police are determining if the driver was a registered heroin user and “passed out” shortly before the car veered across Brisbane Rd at Arundel about 12.20pm.
Ms Roggenkamp and another women aged 48 died at the scene and the driver, and Mr Piper died later at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
An Ashmore man, 49, who was a passenger in the car was hospitalised in a serious but stable condition. His condition had not changed by Friday afternoon.
A police source said investigating officers would conduct a search to determine if any drug utensils were in the vehicle.
“They are looking for any indication that the crash was drug-related,” the source said.
It is understood the car was registered to one of the women in the back of the car. She and Mr Piper were in a relationship, the source said.
Another police source confirmed the focus of the investigation on drug use and whether the driver had been a registered heroin user.
“They are investigating whether the driver consumed heroin about 15 minutes before the crash,” they said.
More than two dozen emergency services workers, school staff and an off-duty police officer rushed to help at the incident.
The crash has lifted the city’s road toll to 15 for 2021, according to Gold Coast Acting Superintendent Rhys Wildman, who attended the chaotic scene.
Police believe the car crossed the median strip and smashed head-on into a semi-trailer hauling a boat. A street light then fell and damaged a third vehicle.
A sombre mood has since swept through the Coast.
Pimpama Tavern restaurant manager Julie Saaga said the “close-knit” northern community was still coming to terms with the tragedy.
“I’m very sorry for the family’s loss,” Ms Saaga said.
“As a community, hopefully we can all pull together.
“I’m sure once we know all the information the community will rally for the family and put a GoFundMe page up.”
Corner Cafe Pimpama staff member Rebecca Webb said customers had been talking about the tragedy and the day had started off “a little bit more sombre”.
“I have seen on Facebook a lot of condolences and virtual hugs for those impacted,” she said.
Act Supt Wildman said he had attended quite a few fatal crashes in his career, but the “horrific” triple-fatal was particularly shocking.
“Personally, I’m incredibly impressed by how the public assisted on the scene,” he said.
“One of our senior constables was actually off-duty and came across the scene and performed CPR on one of the women.
“We had staff from the school there, they assisted. We had over 25 emergency responders on site.
Act Supt Wildman said the “flow on implications” were significant, both for the community and police officers.
“That’s three notifications (of death) that had to be provided by officers and that’s really challenging,” he said.
Act Supt Wildman said it was fortunate the car hit with a truck instead of a car, or more people could have died.
He said drugs (including prescription medication), alcohol, speed, distraction and a lack of seatbelts were a worry for Coast traffic officers.
“There’s a level of frustration, I guess, because the vast majority of these (fatal) crashes are preventable,” he said.
Act Supt Wildman urged anyone with dashcam footage, or who witnessed the crash, to phone their local police station, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Police reveal shocking new details of triple fatality on Brisbane Rd, Arundel
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