Tributes flow for loved Pittsworth prep teacher Tanya Bendall killed in tragic crash
A Pittsworth prep teacher is being remembered for her kind and supportive nature after being killed in a heartbreaking crash on the D’Aguilar Highway which has now taken two lives.
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Family, friends and an entire regional community are in mourning after a cherished Pittsworth prep teacher tragically died in hospital after a multi-fatal crash at Stony Creek.
Toowoomba mum and loving wife Tanya Bendall, 52, died five days after her car collided with Toyota Landcruiser while travelling on the D’Aguilar Highway with her husband.
A 51-year-old Glamorgan Vale man Daniel Hall who was driving the Landcruiser passed away at the scene of the crash on January 7 at 10am.
Loved ones took to social media in tribute of Mrs Bendall, as many Pittsworth State School students and staff were left reeling with heavy hearts before the start of term one.
“To know Tanya was to love her and you were always a better person for knowing her,” a friend wrote.
“She loved and supported me at my worst and best… A kind, caring, loyal, non judgy, wonderful friend with a wicked sense of humour.
“My heart breaks for her family, her children and Dean.”
Mrs Bendall’s friend said she will hold onto many cherished and dear memories the pair shared since high school and will feel the loss of Tanya every day.
“(She) will be missed and loved every day until we meet again,” she said.
A Queensland Police spokesman said it had been a heartbreaking start to the year on the state’s roads and urged drivers to slow down, rest and revive, and drive to conditions.
“Police had experienced a very confronting start to the new year, with the very tragic loss of two lives in separate fatal crashes in the first week of 2022,” a spokesman said.
“A total of six lives have been lost on Queensland roads since January 1, two more than the same time last year”.
South West District Officer Garrath Channells said “any life lost on our roads is one too many but to have two incidents occur within the local area in such a short period is particularly distressing”.
“I would like to pass on my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families and friends who have been impacted by these events,” he said.
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