Lochlan Parker, Katrina McKeough, Courtney Smith among crash victims

Young victims of a horrific crash on a Gold Coast hinterland road have been identified as Townsville uni students.

Deeragun resident Lochlan Parker, 20, Katrina McKeogh, 21 of Mount Louisa, Courtney Smith, 20, from Emerald, and Kirsten Van Gorp, 22, from Brisbane were sight seeing while on university holidays

Young victims of a horrific crash on a Gold Coast hinterland road have been identified as Townsville university students.

Three women and a man were travelling in a sedan on Nerang Murwillumbah Rd amid heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon when initial reports indicated the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with an oncoming ute.

It’s believed Deeragun resident Lochlan Parker, 20, Katrina McKeogh, 21 of Mount Louisa, Courtney Smith, 20 from Emerald, and a 22-year old woman from Brisbane were sight seeing while on university holidays.

All four died at the scene, while the 31-year-old male driver of the ute was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with minor injuries.

Its understood two of the victims were students at James Cook University (JCU), while the other two victims attended Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and University of Queensland (UQ).

Deeragun resident Lochlan Parker, 20, Katrina McKeogh, 21 of Mount Louisa, Courtney Smith, 20, from Emerald, and Kirsten Van Gorp, 22, from Brisbane were sight seeing while on university holidays

Mr Parker was due to graduate from JCU with a Bachelor of Engineering in 2021. He grew up in Townsville and completed his schooling at St. Anthony’s Catholic College, according to his social profile.

Originally from Nuhlunbuy in the Northern Territory, its understood Ms Mc Keough moved to Townsville to study a Bachelor of Engineering. Ms McKeough had a promising career ahead of her and was awarded the 2019 Glencore Prize in Engineering and 2019 Glencore Prize in Science.

Courtney Smith, was also a former student of James Cook University where she graduated in 2019 before commencing study at QUT in late 2019. It’s understood Ms Van Gorp attended UQ.

The crash was so catastrophic that detectives from the Criminal Investigation branch were brought in to assist officers from the Forensic Crash Unit as part of a response featuring dozens of emergency service first responders.

Originally published as Lochlan Parker, Katrina McKeough, Courtney Smith among crash victims