Burnside crash: Man charged after woman dies in crash near Sunshine State school

A loved wife and carer, killed in a crash allegedly caused by a car thief in a Sunshine Coast schoolzone, is being remembered for her “smile and acts of kindness”. PHOTOS, VIDEO.

The victim of Friday’s fatal school zone crash has been named as 52-year-old aged care worker Christella (Stella) Tan.

Ms Tan, described as kind, caring and compassionate died after her Nissan Micra was hit by a stolen Mercedes travelling in the wrong direction. She was returning from a night shift.

Her widow Bernard Wee released a statement on Saturday, remembering his kind wife.

“Stella was my soulmate and the true love of my life. I miss her and love her so much,” Mr Wee said.

“Everyone will always remember her for her smile and acts of kindness.”

The woman killed in a car accident near a Sunshine Coast school on Friday has been identified as Christella Tan.

It comes after the 26-year-old who allegedly crashed the stolen Mercedes was also named.

Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett, who is charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death adversely affected by an intoxicating substance as well as callous disregard to deceased, had his case mentioned briefly in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The court heard Mr Sefton-Bennett, from Caloundra West, was not required to appear in person.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie asked if the charges should be listed for committal mention so the case wasn’t delayed.

The weekend duty lawyer however said he suspected Mr Sefton-Bennett would want to bring a bail application through a private solicitor.

“Oh I see,” Ms McGarvie said, advising she would list the matter for Tuesday to give the registry more time.

The case was adjourned to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 19, at 9am.

Mr Sefton-Bennett was remanded in custody and his appearance will be required in court on Tuesday.

Police will allege will alleged a stolen Mercedes was travelling east on Windsor Rd at Burnside, near Nambour, about 7.20am on Friday when it hit a Nissan Micra that was travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Nissan, a 52-year-old woman, died at the scene of the crash.

She is understood to have been an aged care worker who was on her way home from a night shift.

A woman has died in a horror crash involving a young driver allegedly in a stolen Mercedes outside a school on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Police further allege Mr Sefton-Bennett attempted to flee the scene following the crash.

Along with the dangerous driving charge, he is also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, armed robbery, possession of shortened firearm, possession of methylamphetamine and other drug and firearm related offences.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said on Friday the Mercedes was allegedly stolen at gunpoint from a Landsborough home about 2am.

Sergeant Mansfield said the car was then allegedly seen driving erratically through Burnside, before it collided head-on with the Nissan Micra.

It was assumed Ms Tan was “going about her business” at the time of the crash, he said.

He also said the man, since identified as Mr Sefton-Bennett, allegedly fled the scene on foot and several “good Samaritan” residents followed him to a Nambour home and stopped him from escaping into a second car.

“He was unable to get away in that second vehicle, due to the good Samaritan people there blocking that car in,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable what they’ve done, they’ve clearly seen a horrific incident … they’ve somewhat taken matters into their own hands. They significantly assisted us with our investigation.”

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and arrested Mr Sefton-Bennett.

Clothes and a gel blaster were taken as evidence from the house, police allege.

Detectives have appealed for anyone with any information or dashcam footage to come forward.

A woman has died in a horror crash involving a young driver allegedly in a stolen Mercedes outside a school on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The crash happened outside Nambour Special School on Windsor Rd in Burnside, but a Department of Education spokesperson confirmed this was prior to school arrival time.

No students are believed to have witnessed the crash.

“Arrangements were made with local bus companies to divert around the accident site and parents informed to take alternative routes,” they said.

“No students were injured and Guidance Officer is available to any school community members that require it.”

Emergency services were called to the scene about 7.20am and the street was shut down.

A woman has died in a horror crash involving a young driver allegedly in a stolen Mercedes outside a school on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Photos from the scene showed debris scattered across the road and one small car with a destroyed bonnet up on the footpath.

Another car, also with a destroyed bonnet, was left in the middle of the road.

Reece’s Plumbing Nambour manager Kim Wyatt said several of his employees heard the crash and sirens.

He said police told him investigations would go on for the majority of the day, and this was the “first time in ages” a crash had happened along the road.

A woman has died in a horror crash involving a young driver allegedly in a stolen Mercedes outside a school on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He had never seen any speeding in the school zone and saw police regularly doing speed checks, he said.

The crash arrives on the last day of school, with holidays commencing at 3pm this afternoon.

Kellie Lee was worried for her son, who was walking to school at the time of the incident.

Traffic quickly built up in the area surrounding the crash site at Windsor Road, Burnside. Picture: Google Maps

“My son walked to school and then rang on the way to say he was worried as he passed eight cops walking around the school area,” she said.

“I told him to just walk faster and get straight into school.

“Lots of families heading to school drop off right now.”

Dramatic footage of the arrest has also emerged.

The footage, obtained by Seven News, shows six officers apprehend a shirtless and shoeless man on the side of the road, metres from the crash site where Ms Tan was killed.

The footage also shows one of the officers holding Mr Sefton-Bennett around the neck.