Amy MacMahon crash: Gabba Ward Councillor Trina Massey takes two weeks off for trauma

Gabba Ward Councillor Trina Massey, who witnessed Greens MP Amy MacMahon’s car being T-boned has taken two weeks’ leave to ‘process the trauma’.

The local councillor who witnessed the car crash that seriously injured Greens MP Amy MacMahon will take two weeks’ leave to seek support for the trauma she suffered.

Greens’ Gabba Ward Councillor Trina Massey, who replaced Jonathan Sriranganathan when he stepped down in March last year ahead of his run for Lord Mayor, made the announcement on Facebook and received dozens of supportive responses.

Ms Massey and Dr MacMahon had attended a free community dinner at Raymond Park run by the Greens on Monday and both were driving away from the event.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Main and Baines streets in Kangaroo Point about 6.30pm.

Trina Massey will take two weeks’ leave following the crash involving Amy MacMahon. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Ms Massey witnessed a Hyundai i30 T-bone Dr MacMahon’s Toyota Prius, leaving the 37-year-old South Brisbane MP with serious head injuries and suspected spinal injuries.

The two i30 occupants suffered lesser injuries and went to hospital in stable conditions. Dr MacMahon is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the crash, and no charges have been laid.

“I was in the car behind Amy and was one of the first people at the scene of the crash and made the call to emergency services,” Ms Massey wrote.

“This experience has deepened my appreciation of the taxing and traumatic work first responders, like paramedics, do every day.

“Witnessing such a horrific accident is traumatic for anyone. It’s even more difficult when the person injured is someone you know and care deeply about.

Greens MP Amy MacMahon was involved in a serious car crash at Kangaroo Point earlier in the week. Picture: Dan Peled

“It’s really important to me that I’m able to give our community my all and do the important job of being your councillor to the absolute best of my abilities.

“So I’ve made the difficult decision to take the next two weeks off to process my own trauma and access the support I need to come back even stronger.

“The Gabba Ward Office will continue to function as normal, so please reach out and speak with my staff. My campaign will also continue in my absence.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to provide support.”

Greens MP Amy MacMahon had been attending an event when she was seriously injured in the crash. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

The response to Ms Massey’s announcement on Facebook has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.

“Thank you for what you did on Monday, taking time away to care for yourself, and talking openly about the impact of such a traumatic event. Work, even a campaign, can wait. Good, important, strong decision,” one commenter wrote.

“Understandably shocking and painful, thank you for sharing this decision and normalising taking time to process trauma,” another said.

“Tough call to make during a campaign, but the right one. People need to see their representatives as human, and acknowledging stuff like this goes a long way towards achieving that,” a separate Facebook user wrote.

Ms Massey is on the home stretch of her campaign to retain her Gabba Ward electorate ahead of the March 16 council election.

Stills from CCTV footage of the Kangaroo Point car crash involving Greens MP Amy MacMahon.

However, Brisbane’s inner-south has become the Greens’ heartland and Mr Sriranganathan did retain the Gabba Ward with a swing of 12.4 per cent in the 2020 council election.

“I think it is really good for Trina to take time off when she witnessed such a traumatic event, I’m glad both Trina and Amy are not going to rush back to work,” Mr Sriranganathan said.

“Even though we won’t have Trina or Amy able to help us campaign for now, we’re still very confident of retaining the Gabba Ward, our vote has been very strong in the area.”

Dr MacMahon’s last known condition in the Princess Alexandra Hospital was that she was listed as ‘serious’ on Monday night, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

When The Courier-Mail inquired about Dr MacMahon’s condition in the hospital on Friday, a Queensland Health spokeswoman said she had asked that her condition be kept private.

It is understood Dr MacMahon has had minimal contact with colleagues or staffers since the crash and has been closely supported in hospital by her family.