Family’s agony as 4yo boy and dad killed by alleged drink driver in Logan
Minutes after a neighbour waved goodbye to a Logan father and son, heading for ice cream, their trip ended in tragedy when an alleged drunk driver crashed, killing them both.
The motorist charged over the death of a Logan man and his four-year-old son – who were on a trip to buy ice cream – was drink-driving before he struck them, police have alleged.
Braiden Ashley Timmins, 33, and his son Hendrix-Hemi Te Rongomau King, 4, were walking on Green Rd, Regents Park, when the white dual cab utility crashed into the pair and killed them on Sunday.
Trevor William Galbraith, 41, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter over their deaths just after 11am.
Mr Timmins’ stepfather Peter Geary said his stepson was his “best mate” and Hendrix was “the most beautiful boy” as a neighbour revealed he waved goodbye to the pair, with Hendrix on a small pink bicycle, as they set off for ice cream.
Police on Monday afternoon said they would allege Galbraith returned a positive roadside breath test after the Logan father and son were hit and killed. Investigations were continuing.
“He was then conveyed to hospital where a requirement was made for a specimen of blood to be taken,” a police spokesman said.
Neighbour Derek O’Malley told The Courier-Mail he briefly spoke and waved to Braiden and Hendrix as they left their home on Sunday morning, with the father saying they were off to buy an ice cream.
Mr O’Malley said Braiden was walking side-by-side with his son riding on his pink bicycle.
“I said ‘oh that’s great’ you know, ‘have a great day’,” Mr O’Malley said.
“He was holding his hand, his son was on his bike. He would let him go a bit and then hold his hand. They were doing their father and son thing,” he said.
“It’s still hard to believe that they’re gone.”
Mr O’Malley said shortly after waving off the pair, he made a trip into town and on his way back home he saw the crash site and a pink bike on the ground “crushed”.
He said an hour had passed and Braiden and his son had not returned from their walk and he grew concerned.
“They hadn’t come back. They would go down and take half an hour to get down and come back, and there was no sign of him for ages,” he said.
“Then I heard someone cry inside the house next-door and I came out and I saw the mum with a friend.”
“I didn’t put the two and two together, and then I went outside and started talking to [Pete], oh my god, I just went past it. I didn’t think it’d be Braiden and his son, because I couldn’t see Braiden.
“We continued talking and he asked if the bike was pink and I said yes it was, and he’s gone ‘shit’.
Mr Timmins’ stepfather Peter Geary said his stepson was his “best mate” and that Hendrix was the “most beautiful little boy”.
“Hendrix was a very, very, very loveable child, a very cheeky little boy,” he said.
“Today is for grieving and all our family is together.
“I would like to see changes made (to the road), but not today, not today.”
“Braiden has been my stepson since he’s only three years old,” he said.
“He’s very well known in this community, he was always volunteering – he was my best mate.”
Premier David Crisafulli said “it’s hard not to look at that and feel a level of emotion and sadness for the family”.
“No family should ever have to try to unpick the pieces of doing something so wholesome and so beautiful as going to take your child to go to an ice creamery and then not to be able to see that through,” he said.
Councillor Jacob Heremaia of Logan City Council vowed to investigate measures to improve pedestrian safety in the area.
A GoFundMe fundraiser to support Hendrix’s mum Shannon Hoet said the four-year-old “lit up every room he entered”.
“Hendrix was full of joy, cheeky grins, and boundless love. He lit up every room he entered and brought so much happiness to his family and friends,” she posted to the fundraiser.
“His life was cut far too short, and we are left heartbroken, struggling to comprehend a world without him.”
Galbraith briefly appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday morning, making no application for bail, and was remanded in custody to appear in court again on October 20.
