Community in mourning after young Chinchilla man Jack Holt was killed in Drillham double fatal crash

Two communities are in mourning after a horror crash claimed the lives of a young man and woman on the Warrego Highway.

Chinchilla business owner Jack Holt, 25, died from critical injuries suffered in multi-vehicle crash on the Warrego Highway at Drillham on April 18, 2024.

Chinchilla man Jack Holt has been remembered as a fun-loving larrikin who had a nickname for everyone and brought a smile to the faces of his close mates whenever they met.

These sentiments were shared by his mates after the 25-year-old tragically lost his life in a multi-vehicle crash on the Warrego Highway on Thursday.

Close friend Emma Fitch said she was rocked by his passing.

“Jack was a loveable larrikin, he was funny, genuine, kind, and always having a laugh about something,” she said.

“He had a nickname for everyone and was a typical country bloke who loved to have a laugh and keep people entertained.”

According to the initial police report Mr Holt was the passenger in a white 2013 Holden Colorado ute that was involved in a crash with a black 2010 Holden Colorado about 6.20am on Thursday.

The crash left two other men, aged 41 and 33, with serious injuries and they were later flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Another Chinchilla man, aged 23, suffered minor injuries and was taken by road to the Miles Hospital.

Chinchilla business owner Jack Holt, 25, died from critical injuries suffered in multi-vehicle crash on the Warrego Highway at Drillham on April 18, 2024.

Ms Fitch said Jack’s passing would hit his mates hard.

“You feel shattered, you feel numb,” she said.

“A lot of us got together last night and had a few beers in his memory and we expected him to walk in and be himself.

“Jack had such an impact on so many people and I hope he is up there in heaven and he knows it.”

Tributes have been pouring on social media as news spread of the young businessman’s passing.

Lachlan Bartly described him as “the greatest man that ever took breath”.

“Fly high brother and hope you are building those yards up there to muster those big cheeky bulls in,” he said.

“You might be gone brus (sic) but I will still be working for you in a few weeks like we organised.

“I will never forget that cheeky grin you have when we go to get on the drink for the night.”

Jack was the director of Rocky Creek Fabrication and Contracting and specialised in building stock yards.

Karla Cann said Jack was “one in a million”.

“Your daily Snapchats, contagious smile and cheeky comments, always being there when I needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on,” she said.

“From getting your first big yard building job at home, to seeing you succeed and putting in the hard yards to make those big dreams come true.

“So proud to see how far you’d come with your business,” Cody Kelly said.

“I am so grateful to have had you in my life … as young fellers with fake IDs, open roads with no commitments were the best years of my life, you’ll always be remembered as a loyal, good man to all.

Tragically, the crash also killed a 41-year-old Miles woman.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established by her cousin Shakarna Holland to help her family with funeral costs.

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