David Smith remains critical after tragic Goodwood Rd crash

The identity of a driver in a horror crash near Childers, which claimed the life of a 17-year-old girl, has been revealed as loved ones rally around the car enthusiast battling “massive injuries”.

Tributes are flowing for David Smith, the 17-year-old crash victim fighting for his life in a Brisbane hospital.

Friends and family of a 17-year-old Gooburrum boy, critically injured in a tragic crash that took the life of another Bundaberg teenager, have shared touching messages of support.

David Smith was driving a car carrying Illiana Palella and a 17-year-old Millbank boy when it collided with an armoured vehicle on Goodwood Rd near Childers on May 23.

All three teens were flown from the scene to hospital but Ms Palella later died while the other passenger’s condition was confirmed as stable.

A Metro South Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said on Monday, June 5, Mr Smith remained in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

His family has created a fundraiser to pay for medical fees and living expenses to enable his parents to stay at his bedside.

At the time of publication, the GoFundMe page had raised $4,511 from eight donations with a total goal of $20,000.

In one message posted on the page, Mr Smith’s sister Kiarnah Hayes said it was a “hard time for all of us” and she expected her brother to remain in hospital for at least six months.

In messages posted to her “baby bro” on social media, David Smith's sister Kiarnah Hayes told him “you’ve got this” and “love you little bro, you are strong and you can fight this”.

“David is your typical 17 year old boy, he loves his family and friends, to the point majority of his friends are now family,” the message read.

“He is a major car enthusiast who would always be down to help anyone fix their car wherever and whenever, as this was exactly what he was doing at the time of the accident.

“All Davo wants is to live life to the fullest, experience everything and be wild and free.

“He has touched so many people in this world.”

In other messages to her “baby bro” posted on social media, Ms Hayes said “you’ve got this” and “love you little bro, you are strong and you can fight this”.

David Smith’s grandmother encouraged people to make donations to the fundraiser for her “beloved grandson”.

In a separate Facebook post Mr Smith’s grandmother, Francis, encouraged people to make donations to the fundraiser for her “beloved grandson”.

“David is one of my beloved grandsons whose life long dream has been Cars, Cars, Cars and now my dream is for him to have a full recovery from his massive injuries,” she wrote

“Please, if you can donate even a dollar it will help his mum and dad stay by his side to encourage him to get better.”

Friends also posted messages of support for Mr Smith and his family.

Haylee Pampling said “thinking of yous all. Yous are so God damn strong! Sending so much love.”

Another friend, Leica Phillips, said she was “praying for him and your family”.

Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/davids-recovery-202324