Mirani man Jamie Winn dies in a fatal crash in the Pioneer Valley
The tragic ‘sudden and unexpected’ death of a Queensland man has shattered his family and friends as they rally to support his widow who is battling a devastating disease.
Mackay
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The tragic “sudden and unexpected” death of a Mirani man has shattered the Mackay region community as family and friends rally to support his widow who has Multiple Sclerosis.
Jamie Winn, 35, had been riding his black Harley Davidson from his home at Mirani to work at Paget when he and a Toyota Corolla collided head-on about 3.30am on Mackay Eungella Rd in the Pioneer Valley, west of Mackay.
Close family friend Kelly Brownsey said Jaime was a “loving husband, son, brother and friend to all that knew him”.
“He was (a) hardworking, one of a kind bloke who loved his motorbike,” Ms Brownsey said in her GoFundMe fundraiser to support Jaime’s “beautiful wife” Krissinda.
“He was the main income earner (for her) since Kris was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in late 2021.
“Losing a loved one so sudden and unexpected is heartbreaking.”
Jaime’s father John Winn said it felt like “somebody’s ripped my heart out”.
“I’m at a total loss and in total disbelief,” John Winn said on Sunday night.
“I couldn’t honestly ask for a better son.”
Mr Winn, who lives in Maryborough, said he heard the gut-wrenching news from Jamie’s wife Krissinda early Sunday morning after he did not turn up to work, she rang and told him “he’d had a bad accident, a really, really bad accident”.
Soon after she told him “he’s not with us any more, that’s when it really hit home”.
“Jamie was my best mate and my son,” Mr Winn said.
“We rode motorbikes together, we went fishing together, we did everything together … right from when he was a kid through to his married life.”
The family is devastated, trying to come to terms with the hole his absence has left.
“It’s like somebody’s ripped my heart out,” Mr Winn said, adding he had spent the afternoon consoling Jamie’s grandfather.
“They were due to come down for a holiday down here in three weeks time … and going to his grandfather’s 90th at the same time.”
Mr Winn said his son had been riding his “pride and joy” – his Harley, a prized possession alongside his 50th edition Ford Falcon – at the time of his tragic death.
He said Jamie had been riding for 17 years, since he was 18 years old.
“He loved his Harleys,” he said.
“For the last eight years we were in the same club together.”
Mr Winn said Jamie was a support rider for his club the Patriots Australian Military Motorcycle Club’s Shoalwater Bay chapter.
Mackay’s Forensic Crash Unit are investigating the crash, which brings the district’s road toll to 15 for 2023.
Early indications suggest the Corolla crossed into the wrong lane when it occurred.
The driver of the Corolla, a 23-year-old Mirani woman, was taken to Mackay Base Hospital.
Jamie was born in Mackay and went to Alligator Creek school where his nickname was Potter, “because he looked like Harry Potter”, Mr Winn said.
“He had some really great mates.
“If you were a mate of his, you’ll never forget him.”
Jamie had been married to his wife Krissinda for almost seven years and John said his son was devoted to her and his family.
“He’d have done anything for his wife,” Mr Winn said.
“He loved his mother, loved his sister.”
Jamie also loved his cats. John said his favourite was a long-haired Persian named Frankie.
He held a number of qualifications including major tyre repairer, brake and front end specialist, boilermaker/fabricator and ran his own business JNK Welding and Custom Fabrication.
Mr Winn said his son was very hands on.
“You give him a task to do and he’d do it,” he said.
“He was a perfectionist in what he did.
“If somebody wanted something done, he’d put his hand up.”
The pair enjoyed throwing banter at each other about different things with Mr Winn describing his son as a “real scallywag”.
“I used to send him jokes and he’d send me jokes,” Mr Winn said.
“He’d send me pictures of things he’d done at work, or at home or his business.”
The GoFundMe campaign has as of Tuesday morning raised more than $3000 from a $10,000 goal.
“Your donation big or small will be greatly appreciated during these hard times,” Ms Brownsey wrote.
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