Logan truck driver David Durbin remembered after Brunswick Heads crash

A devoted Logan dad had been looking at engagement rings not long before he was killed in a tragic truck crash — while his partner at home waited for a phonecall which never came.

Nikisha Smith and David Durbin. Picture - Facebook/Nikisha Smith.

A devoted father, dedicated partner and beloved Logan community member has been remembered for his quick wit after dying in a horrific truck crash.

Truck driver David Durbin, 26, of Logan, died after his B-double rolled over and caught fire while exiting the Pacific Motorway on the New South Wales far north coast near Brunswick Heads.

The crash happened about 6am, Friday March 24, killing Mr Durbin and causing the truck to become engulfed in flames.

His partner of nearly 1.5 years Nikisha Smith, a nurse from Loganholme, said she knew something was wrong when he didn’t call her that morning.

“He always calls me at 5.45am no matter what but that morning I didn’t hear from him,” she said.

The 23-year-old said both of their phones tracked each other’s locations, so while he was working away she’d know where he was and that he was safe.

That Friday morning, when he didn’t call, it said his tracker hadn’t updated in a few hours.

After trying to call him multiple times, Ms Smith called the truck company he was working for at the time.

“They told me he wasn’t coming home,” she said.

“It was devastating. You just don’t want to believe it.

“I was just so sure he was going to come home.”

David Durbin, 26, of Loganholme. Picture - GoFundMe.

Originally from Coffs Harbour, Mr Durbin had moved to the Brisbane and Logan area about five years ago in search of a better life.

“Before that he’d moved around a lot and had a bit of a tough life,” Ms Smith said.

“He was a very skilled trucker with the highest license and an avid motorbike rider.

“That’s actually how we met. I put up a post in a Facebook community group looking for help with my bike and he came over and just never left.”

Despite only spending a short amount of time together, Ms Smith said they were always together.

“We lived together in Loganholme and spent all of our time together. When he was away working we were always on the phone,” she said.

The whirlwind romance had even led to discussions of marriage and buying a house.

“We were looking at rings and saving for a house,” Ms Smith said.

“We’d actually already set a date for the wedding.”

Nikisha Smith and David Durbin. Picture - Facebook/Nikisha Smith.

The couple had just gotten back from a trip to Fiji, where Ms Smith was from. It was Mr Durbin’s first and last overseas adventure.

“He just did so much for everybody and was so well loved and well known,” Ms Smith said.

“He was infectious to be around. A man of few words but highly intelligent.

“He also loved four wheel driving and camping. He was a real outdoors person and just loved life.

“There was no one else like him.”

Mr Durbin was also very close with his brother Dylan Durbin.

His half sister, Tiarna Durbin, started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for his funeral and two boys.

“He was a dedicated and devoted father,” Ms Smith said.

“He loved those boys very much and was always visiting and calling them.”