Remembering the faces of the South West’s tragic road toll in 2021
After a horror year on Queensland roads, we’re taking a moment to remember the lives lost on Western Queensland roads after one of the worst years for fatalities. See the faces we lost here:
Dalby
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It’s been a horror year on the roads for the Western Downs and Maranoa as well Queensland as a whole, with hundreds of families experiencing their first Christmas without a cherished loved one in 2021.
Between January 1 and December 12, 268 people have died as a result of crashes on the state’s roads.
Here are the faces of the South West road toll in 2021.
Melissa Richardson
Tributes flowed for Melissa Richardson, 30, who was killed in the crash on the Warrego Highway about 50km east of Roma. about 3pm on May 14.
The Chinchilla mother-of-five was a passenger in the car when it collided with a school bus on May 14, and sadly died at the scene.
The 37-year-old woman driving the car was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Inside the bus was a 58-year-old driver and 16 children, who all escaped critical injuries.
A friend of Ms Richardson set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to support the late mother’s family.
“Yesterday afternoon was supposed to be when Melissa arrived home to her five beautiful children but unfortunately her young life was cut way too short,” Kerry Hobbs wrote.
“A school bus had collided with the car she was travelling in and she was killed.
“Her beautiful young children now have no Mother. An absolute tragedy!”
Ethan Turnbull
St George man Ethan Turnbull lost his life on December 15 after crashing his motorcycle near Roma.
In the wake of the shocking news, friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to the much loved friend, partner and son.
Father Brian Kemp said he was devastated by the sudden loss of his son.
“I’m so shattered, and so are a lot of your good mates and family,” he said.
“Fly high my son, I love you.
“(I’m) going to the pub and having a good charge for you my son. Love you, Ethan.”
Friend Aden McGuane said Mr Turnbull was well loved among friends, as well as strangers.
Grace Ruhle
Tributes flowed following the death of Grace Ruhle, after she was killed when she fell from the back of a ute on Good Friday.
The 23-year-old Linthorpe woman was thrown from the back of a ute travelling along Springvale Road about 10.30pm, 29km from Dalby.
The Dalby community and those close to Ms Ruhle remembered her for her larger-than-life personality.
“Gracie girl, your unique spark will be remembered by all who were lucky enough to know you,” one friend wrote in a Facebook post.
“You‘re cherished by countless and will be missed by so many … I love you Gracie.”
“Thinking of you all in these hard times,” another friend wrote.
Crystal Coffee
A young Tara woman was remembered as an “amazing person” after she was killed in a head-on collision in Bowenville.
Crystal Coffee, 24, was travelling along the Warrego Highway on July 9 when she was involved in a two-vehicle crash with a Toyota LandCruiser.
Several bystanders leapt from their cars to render assistance and conducted CPR on the young woman for half an hour until emergency services arrived.
Ms Coffee died at the scene.
Her family and friends took to social media to remember the childcare worker who was taken from their lives too soon.
A friend commented that it was “heartbreaking news” to hear that the “beautiful young loving woman” had passed away.
“You will be missed by so many and by my family, love you always,” a woman wrote.
Brooke Holder
Five kids were left without their mum after 29-year-old Brooke Holder was killed in a devastating crash in Bowenville.
The Kogan woman died in a truck and car collision along the Warrego Highway near Newton Stephen Road on June 18.
She was travelling as a passenger when the crash occurred, and sadly died at the scene.
Her mother Ruth Deuble said her relatives have been left shattered following her death, saying Ms Holder “lived for her family”.
“She was just such a beautiful person, who has done everything for us,” Mrs Deuble said.
“Brooke was always there for her family, and was just our everything.
Monique Hall
A mum dedicated to her two sons with autism was remembered by friends, family and the Western Australian sled dog community as a beautiful lady taken far too soon.
Mum-of-two Monique Hall tragically lost her life in a car crash while moving back to her home state of Queensland with her young family.
The mum and avid sled dog musher had been travelling to Nanango from WA on June 9 with her two boys, partner, and dogs when the family’s car rolled and crashed into a tree on the Moonie Highway.
Those close to the 48-year-old were left heartbroken and shocked, with Ms Hall’s friend Cathy Reeves vowing to ensure the health and wellbeing of the two boys who had lost their special mum.
“All I can say I’m very speechless, feeling lost and heartbroken … such an amazing person (has) gone way too soon,” Ms Reeves said in a post to her Facebook page.
“We will look after your boys, we will help and support them, we will love them like our own. We have them sweetheart I promise you,” Ms Reeves vowed to her friend.
Terry John Harper
The Western Downs was left mourning after Dalby man Terry John Harper was killed in a motorbike crash at Kumbarilla in July.
The electrical and instrumentation supervisor was travelling along Kumbarilla Lane when tragedy struck.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the single-vehicle crash about 3.30pm, but the 59-year-old Dalby man could not be revived.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ivan Oliver
The small town of Millmerran was shattered by the tragic death of Ivan Oliver, a prominent business owner and community figure who ran the town’s newsagency for 19 years.
The beloved 64-year-old was killed in a head-on crash on the Leichhardt Highway, south of Miles, on October 17.
Mr Oliver died at the scene and his wife, Maria, was taken to hospital with serious injuries to her back and shoulder. A 22-year-old Fanny Bay man was also flown to hospital with serious injuries.
Millmerran Commerce and Progress president Nikki Macqueen said “the whole community of Millmerran and beyond are in shock and disbelief with Ivan’s passing”.
“Both he and Maria run the successful Millmerran Newsagency which they have owned for 19 years and is the hub of our small town,” Ms Macqueen said.
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