Brisbane Christmas Day crash: Tributes pour in for victims

A TEENAGER and her mother are being mourned by the community after they tragically lost their lives in a Christmas Day crash. A 46-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident.

• Driver charged over Christmas crash

MAKAYLA Tritton has been described as a “golden child” as tributes pour in for the teen and her mum killed in a Christmas road tragedy that brought police to tears.

The Narangba 18-year-old died at the scene and her mother Karin, 56, succumbed to critical injuries hours after an out-of-control BMW slammed into their family sedan on their way to relatives for Christmas lunch. Makayla’s 23-year-old sister Tarmeka and 55-year-old father Laurence remain in hospital but are expected to make a full recovery.

Makayla Tritton died at the scene of the crash, which happened as her family was heading to relatives for Christmas lunch.

The teen and her mum were well-known among the southeast Queensland tenpin bowling community, with many paying tribute to them on social media.

“Makayla was the golden child to all of us here and always will be. We loved her with all our hearts and always will,” said a spokesman for Strathpine Hyperbowl, where Makayla worked. “As for Karin she was no different. Never a dull moment one way or the other as was the Tritton family in whole.”

Makayla Tritton was a talented state Tenpin Bowling player. Picture Bradley Cooper

“When I found out yesterday that it was you and your family in the accident all I could was cry,” Vicki-lee Canfield wrote on Facebook in tribute to her friend. “It can’t be real that you and your mum are gone.”

The Trittons are well known members of the tenpin bowling community in southeast Queensland with Queensland Tenpin Bowling posting its own tribute on Facebook.

“Our bowling family suffered greatly over the last two days by the tragedy and loss of Karin and Makayla Tritton,” the post read.

A family friend wrote heaven “had gained two more angels too soon. Such a loving, beautiful girl with such a bright future ahead of you”.

Police said the family had “no chance” of taking evasive action to prevent the head-on collision, with the other vehicle crossing the median strip in Manly West. Two off-duty doctors, one of them pregnant, police and paramedics attempted CPR.

The car was filled with gifts that will never be exchanged. Police broke the news to relatives who rang one of the victim’s mobile phones wondering why they were late. Officers were reduced to tears by the tragedy.

Road policing commander Superintendent David Johnson said: “The death of the 18-year-old girl and the later passing of the mother in hospital is something that is going to be etched in their minds forever and a day.”

Flowers left the day after the fatal crash at the Manly West scene. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

In a bedside hearing at the Princess Alexandra Hospital yesterday, a 46-year-old Capalaba man was charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.

He was granted bail and is due to appear in the Wynnum Magistrates Court on January 15. Police are awaiting blood test results and say more charges may follow.

A GoFundMe page has been started to help the Tritton family.

Flowers at the crash scene. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker