Karen Malcolm: Darren Malcolm mourns the loss of Baringa mother, grandmother

A Sunshine Coast father has been left shattered after his mum was killed in a deadly crash as he and his young son now face an uncertain future.

The son of a beloved grandmother and bus driver who was killed in a deadly head-on collision in Corbould Park has been left trying to rebuild his life and look after his autistic son.

Darren Malcolm was at home with his eight-year-old son Braxton about 9pm on August 9, 2022, when his 63-year-old mum’s Toyota Kluger and a Toyota LandCruiser collided along Bells Creek Arterial Rd.

Karen Malcolm had finished work as a bus driver about 8.20pm and was only several minutes away from her Baringa home that she shared with her son and grandson.

She died from her injuries at the scene.

Mr Malcolm said he was expecting his mother home that evening when he heard a banging at the door and saw flashlights shining through his windows.

“When they (police) woke us up I went to the door and they told me mum had been in an accident,” Mr Malcolm said.

“So I went to get my boy dressed and they just said they weren’t taking me anywhere and nodding.

“I was like ‘what does that even mean?’ and they said ‘she’s deceased mate’.”

Mr Malcolm’s said he’s been left in a pit of despair since that moment, losing the strongest woman he ever knew.

“She’d do anything for anybody, she would go out of her way for anyone,” he said.

“Mum was our biggest supporter and the biggest emotional support I have, she was everything.”

Born in Brisbane, Ms Malcolm worked as a bus driver for more than 30 years and was a mother to two boys and a girl and a grandmother to five.

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She loved playing the bagpipes and being a part of her community.

Mr Malcolm, who has an acquired brain injury and is on a pension, lived with his mum and they would look after with his son who has a high level of autism.

She would take them to doctor’s appointments, help around the house and contribute to rent of their Baringa home.

Now with her gone the Baringa father of one was at a loss about what to do to keep a roof over their heads.

“Mum helped take care of me a lot and was a huge help for me and Brax,” Mr Malcolm said.

“Every morning when he would wake up he’d look for her and spent everyday loving her.

“She was just that genuine.”

Mr Malcolm is trying to stay in the area for his son’s services for speech and occupational therapy, along with continuing his normal school life.

A GoFundMe has been created to help with their costs following the death of their beloved mother and grandmother.

You can donate here.