Graham ‘Abdul’ Mehmet killed in Poona Creek bridge crash

A funeral date has been set for a beloved father and grandfather who was killed when his car crashed off a bridge in the Tuan Forest between the Cooloola and Fraser Coast. 

Hervey Bay’s Graham ‘Abdul’ Mehmet, 63, died after his after his car veered off the Maryborough Cooloola Road in the Tuan Forest and plunged into Poona Creek.

A funeral will be held for a beloved father and grandfather who was killed in a tragic crash at Poona Creek in May 2023.

Hervey Bay’s Graham ‘Abdul’ Mehmet, 63, died after his after his car veered off the Maryborough Cooloola Road in the Tuan Forest and plunged into Poona Creek about 5.30am on May 23.

Mr Mehmet was the only person in the car at the time.

In his funeral notice, Mr Mehmet was remembered as the beloved father of John and Kara, poppy of Stirling, a much-loved brother and uncle and friend to many.

“Our love is strong but our sadness is deep,” the funeral notice read.

A funeral will be held for Mr Mehmet at the Orana Chapel at Hervey Bay Crematorium on Tuesday, June 6 at 1pm.

It follows a funeral which was held for another crash victim last week after a spate of tragic crashes in the Wide Bay region in the past month.

Jodie Russell, a 41-year-old mother of one, was killed in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway near Chatsworth, just north of Gympie, on May 12, 2023.

The Centrelink call centre operator was driving with her seven-year-old daughter, Matilda Paterson, known as Tilly, from Tinana to Brisbane when her car collided with a Ford Ranger towing a caravan.

On Tuesday, May 30, her loving family and friends gathered at the Heritage Chapel at Maryborough Crematorium to farewell Ms Russell, who was remembered as someone who was always there for anyone who needed her help.

Tilly spoke at the service through tears, telling her “beautiful mum” she would be “in their hearts forever.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to held her family and daughter in the wake of the tragedy.

By Monday it had raised more than $8600.