Mackay road toll: Sefo Pau jailed for eight years for Scott Burrage fatal crash

A grieving widow has delivered a powerful victim impact statement to the driver responsible for the tragic death of her husband and father to their three little girls. WARNING: Distressing content

A heartbroken widow has delivered a devastating victim impact statement to the dangerous driver who stole the life of her soulmate and father of their three little girls including calling on him to “make something good come out of this tragedy”.

“I can’t begin to imagine the horror he would have felt in his last moments,” Kylie Burrage said as she laid bare her powerful words to Sefo Pau at his sentence over the fatal crash that claimed Mirani father-of-three Scott Burrage.

“Did you have any idea what it feels like to have your child tell you that daddy can’t love them anymore because he’s in heaven and not with them?”

Mackay District Court heard police and nearby drivers removed Mr Burrage from the crumpled wreck of his Toyota Prado and began desperately trying to save his life – tragically he died at the scene.

Data extracted from the airbags of Pau’s Mitsubishi Lancer, that was fitted with stolen plates, revealed the vehicle reached speeds of 182kmh five seconds before the catastrophic impact.

‘STRUGGLING TO BREATHE’

It was just after 7.45pm on March 20, 2021 and Mr Burrage, 35, was in his parked vehicle on the gravel driveway to the Mirani waste treatment plant.

That day, he had fitted new a lightbar to the family vehicle and was testing it out ahead of a holiday at Easter.

At the same time, about 150m to the east, Pau left Mackay Eungella Rd and travelled in a straight line across a grassy embankment to where Mr Burrage was parked.

“He slammed into the left passenger side of Mr Burrage’s Toyota causing it to slide across the driveway and into the grass,” Crown Prosecutor Jessica Guy told the court.

“Pau’s Lancer flew over the top of Mr Burrage’s car and landed upside down behind it.

“Mr Burrage was bleeding heavily and struggling to breath.”

Mirani father-of-three Scott Burrage was killed in a crash on Mackay-Eungella road. Picture: Kylie Burrage

Ms Guy said nearby drivers ran to the crash site and police arrived soon after.

“Together … a group of them extricated Mr Burrage’s legs from where they’d been trapped, lifted him from the car and laid him on the ground,” Ms Guy said.

CPR was performed for about 15 to 20 minutes until paramedics arrived, but sadly Mr Burrage soon passed away.

“Pau was trapped upside down in the driver's seat of the Lancer,” Ms Guy said.

He told a paramedic “I think I was going about 140 to 150kmh”.

The paramedic told him “You were very lucky, the other patient has died”.

The court heard Pau began to cry and said “why is it every time I try to do myself over I end up with a stitch?” but would not speak about it further.

‘YOU DECIDED TO KILL MY HUSBAND’

Mr Burrage’s wife Kylie, 35, described to the court extreme pain her husband’s death has caused her family.

“You decided to drive like an idiot,” she said

“You decided to kill my husband.

“That’s the blatant truth of the matter.

“This is no mere accident.”

The widow said “it wasn’t an easy death”.

“From what I have witnessed … he fought and he suffered,” she said, before recalling the heartbreaking moment police knocked on her door.

“I knew looking into that officer’s crestfallen face what he didn’t want to say,” she said.

“I collapsed on the floor … I was very shocked when he got down on the floor with me.

“He told me he was sorry, that he tried to save Scott’s life but he couldn’t.”

Scott Burrage with his wife Kylie and their three girls.

She also recalled the heartbreaking moment she had to formally identify her husband’s body.

“I can’t describe the shock that comes with the cold hard realisation that a loved one is beyond your reach,” she said.

“Scott’s eyes were open. There was no life or soul in those blue depths.

“Just a revelation that he fought to stay. And that hurts.”

Describing the father of her children as “a man of passion and devotion, she told Pau that “sorry will never be enough – the damage is done”.

“If you want to apologise then I throw this challenge to you,” she said.

“You make something good come out of this tragedy. You turn yourself around and do something in your sphere of influence to make a positive change.”

‘HE WAS SPEEDING TO KILL HIMSELF’

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said his client “was psychiatrically ill on this night” and had been intending to take his own life.

The court heard he had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time.

Mr McLennan said a psychiatric report stated Pau had been reacting to an argument with his mother against a background of a likely major depressive episode, methylamphetamine withdrawal and with his anger fuelled somewhat by “probably hallucinations”.

The court heard he had not taken any proactive steps towards dealing with his mental health issues.

Mr McLennan said his client had asked him to apologise to Mr Burrage’s loved ones.

“He’s devastated by what he did and he’s ashamed,” Mr McLennan said.

Sefo Pau (red shirt) leaves Mackay Magistrates Court in 2021 after he was formally charged with five offences including dangerous driving causing death the death of Scott Barrage at Mirani.

“He asked me to tell Mr Burrage’s loved ones that he’s sorry and it wasn’t meant to happen this way.”

Mr McLennan argued for seven years jail, while Ms Guy pushed for eight to nine years with parole eligibility after serving one third to one half of that term with an absolutely licence disqualification.

SPEED INVOLVED WAS ‘STAGGERING’

Pau pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death while excessively speeding – which has a maximum penalty of 14 years jail – and other charges including driving while SPER suspended in an unregistered, uninsured vehicle that wasn’t fitted with an interlock device and had stolen number plates attached.

Judge John Coker labelled the speed involved in the fatal crash as “staggering”.

“The great tragedy here is that if there had only been some consideration of the possible consequences at an earlier stage than the death of Mr Burrage and the dreadful hurt that is has caused might have been able to be avoided,” Judge Coker said, accepting Pau indicated an early plea.

Mirani father-of-three Scott Burrage was killed in a crash on Mackay-Eungella road. Picture: Kylie Burrage

“He was going about his lawful and proper business … (and) as a result of your actions on that day his life was cut tragically short.”

Judge Coker praised the “incredible courage, the compassion and the dignity” Mrs Burrage showed in reading her victim impact statement, adding he “felt tears in my eyes and still do”.

Pau, who appeared via videolink, was jailed for eight years with parole eligibility on January 27, 2025 and he was absolutely disqualified from holding a licence.

The 159 days in pre-sentence custody was deemed time already served and convictions were recorded.