Grandmother, mother arrested over incident linked to tragic death of boy

The mother and grandmother of a little boy tragically killed in a horror triple fatality south of Mackay allegedly lashed out at police when they tried to collect a two year old’s things from the destroyed car.

The grandmother of a little boy tragically killed in a horror crash south of Mackay that claimed three lives lashed out at police when she and her daughter tried to collect the two year old’s things from the destroyed car.

Izaya Jasperson, 2, and two others were tragically killed when a car travelling from Rockhampton to Nebo on Marlborough Sarina Rd left the road near Grave Gully Bridge and hit a culvert about 10.15pm on November 11.

Two-year-old Izaya Jasperson was killed in a car crash on Sarina Marlborough Rd, Clarke Creek that claimed three lives. Picture: Facebook

As a result of the collision, the car carrying five people rolled in a muddy ditch and pinned some of the occupants underneath.

Izaya’s mother Kira Elizabeth Jean Jasperson was seriously injured and suffered “severe memory loss and other trauma to her body” from the crash, a court heard.

She was travelling in a car with her mother Rosemarie Jean Jasperson on November 22, 2021 at Sarina when police stopped the vehicle on Broad St about 11.30pm as it was “believed to have been involved in an offence”.

Prosecutor David Epstein told Sarina Magistrates Court the situation escalated – it is alleged Kira Jasperson tried to pull police off her partner, who was being arrested, and was warned she would also be arrested.

Rosemarie Jean Jasperson pleaded guilty to obstructing police over an incident linked to the tragic death of her grandson in a triple fatal crash. She is pictured with her grandson Izaya, 2.

The court heard during a later incident Rosemarie “began to pull police off Kira”.

She was arrested and charged with obstructing police.

“(She) calmed down … she stated she was concerned for the welfare of her daughter,” Mr Epstein said.

“ (Kira) had recently been in a serious car crash where she had sustained injuries.”

Duty lawyer Robyn Cathcart said the escalation “arose out of tragic circumstances”.

“(Rosemarie’s) grandchild was killed in a car accident,” Ms Cathcart said.

“Kira was in the car, seriously hurt.

“They attended the police station (on November 22) in order to get the baby’s belongings out of the car and it all just went out of hand.

Kira Jasperson was seriously injured in a horror crash that claimed the life of her two-year-old son and two others. Picture: Facebook

“My client thought that they (the police) were being a little bit rough with Kira.”

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan took into account Rosemarie Jasperson’s early guilty plea.

“You don’t have any criminal history so this is out of character for you,” Ms Hartigan said.

“Emotions were running high as a result of the car accident where a young child was killed, you were worried about the safety of your daughter because she was being arrested after her partner was arrested.”

Rosemarie Jasperson was fined $300 and a conviction was not recorded.

Kira Jasperson is also facing seven charges over the alleged incident on November 22 including two counts each of assault and obstruct police and one count each of contravening police direction to give her name, being a public nuisance and failing to wear a seatbelt properly.

Matters were initially mentioned in Sarina on Monday before being adjourned to Mackay Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Ms Cathcart, also for Kira Jasperson, asked for an adjournment until the new year citing “ongoing medical issues”.

“She’s got to go to Brisbane early in the new year for her head injury,” Ms Cathcart said.

“She’s suffering from severe memory loss and other trauma to her body due to the accident.”

Matters were adjourned to January.