Sisters’ touching tribute to teen brother who died in tragic crash

The heartbroken sisters of the 14-year-old boy who died after a tragic car crash have paid their tributes, while sharing insight of the terrible trauma he had suffered.

FAR North resident Samantha Chapman, 28, said she is devastated by the tragic death of her younger brother Bradley Smith, 14, who died at the scene of a devastating car crash in Manoora in the early hours of Monday.

“He was a loving, kind and nurturing boy, he did not deserve this death,” she said

As the family grieves, police revealed on Tuesday night the 14-year-old driver has been charged with manslaughter and three counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm whilst adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and one count each of burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence.

The driver has been denied bail and will appear in Cairns Children's Court this week.

Another boy, aged 14, was also charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and burglary relating to the same incident and he appeared in Cairns Children's Court on Tuesday.

Bradley Smith, 14, who died in car crash at Pease St, Manoora, on Monday February 14, with older sister Jessica Schirmer, has been described by his devastated family as, “loving kind and nurturing.”.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have vision of the alleged stolen car or the crash to come forward.

But this is cold comfort for his shattered family.

“Bradley was loving, kind and nurturing, he would do anything to help people” Ms Chapman said

“He did not deserve this death. He had a traumatic time since he was 12 and was hanging out with the wrong people.

“I hold them to blame for his death.”

Ms Chapman said her other sister was also devastated.

“This youth crime has to stop,” she said.

“Our children are dying.”

Bradley Smith, 14, (far right) with his sisters Samantha Chapman (left) and Jessica Schirmer (centre.) Ms Chapman said her younger brother was "loving kind and nurturing," and that the family is devastated by his death.

Bradley’s former carer Tiarnie Mueller said people needed to look beyond the stereotype of the boy she said had endured “terrible trauma.”

“Bradley’s death has ripped a hole in our hearts, she said.

“Bradley had a troubled life, his mother died when he was young and his father died about a year and a half ago.

“Until his dad died he was good boy, they were very close.

“When he passed he turned to his friends who meant everything to him, even though some were committing crimes.”

Ms Mueller said she met Bradley through her daughter who revealed the teen was sleeping rough.

She said she felt that in this case, Child Safety Services had failed Bradley and ultimately the wider community.

“Bradley shared with me some shocking accounts of treatment he had endured while in state care,” she said.

“When he came to live with my family I saw something good in him and I tried to steer him away from all that and show him life in a normal family.

“Bradley loved fishing and doing outdoor things and playing with my dog,

“He loved being able to be a kid and not be involved with peer pressure, all he wanted was to be in a loving family.”

Denise Weazael of Manoora lays some flowers at the scene of a fatal car crash at Manoora, where an allegedly stolen Toyota Yaris left Pease St near the Saltwater Creek bridge and hit a tree. Bradley Smith, 14, was declared dead at the scene, and five other children aged 12 to 15 were taken to Cairns Hospital with injuries. Picture: Brendan Radke

However, Ms Mueller said because Bradley was not legally placed with the family, authorities told him he had to return to their supervision.

“He trusted and respected me and I told him my door was always open for him,” she said.

“Bradley wanted to go back to school, but because of all the trauma he had experienced he needed one-on-one attention.

“Once he was back in state care, I don’t know what happened after Christmas, he seemed to go off the rails.”

Ms Mueller said Bradley’s death has exposed a treacherous lack of empathy in the community, particularly on social media.

“The backlash from keyboard warriors was disgusting,” she said.

“These people have no clue, no child deserves to die, yes crime is bad, but no child deserves this death.

“Those people should save their terrible comments for rapists, murderers and paedophiles.”

A man and a boy lay floral tributes at the scene of a fatal crash at Manoora, where an allegedly stolen Toyota Yaris left Pease St near the Saltwater Creek bridge and struck a tree. Bradley Smith, 14, died at the scene, and five other children aged 12 to 15 were taken to Cairns Hospital with injuries. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Mueller also called for more attention to be directed towards the most vulnerable in our society and find genuine solutions while other community groups called for tougher legislation against youth crime.

As the Queensland Government this week commenced a campaign to encourage people to consider becoming foster carers and help care for the state’s most vulnerable children, Ms Mueller said more needs to be done to prevent another tragedy.

Floral tributes at the scene of fatal crash among broken car pieces and tree bark at the scene of a fatal traffic crash at Manoora. Passenger Bradley Smith, 14, was declared dead at the scene, and five other children aged 12 to 15 were taken to Cairns Hospital with injuries. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Yes, there needs to be more foster carers taking on theses children, many who have come out of broken and traumatic situations,” she said.

“I know there are a lot of kids out there struggling and many of them can make a change if they and their families are offered support and counselling.

“We don't want Bradley to have died in vain, he had so many friends, who loved him.”

A spokeswoman for the department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs said the safety and wellbeing of children is the department’s highest priority.

“The death of any child is a tragedy and our hearts go out to Bradley’s family, friends and community,” she said.

“The Child Protection Act prevents the department from disclosing publicly whether an individual or family is known or not known to the department.

“If a child known to Child Safety dies, a child death review process is undertaken by a specialist internal review team.

“This review is then considered by an external mechanism, the independent Child Death Review Board located within the Queensland Family and Child Commission.”

Originally published as Sisters’ touching tribute to teen brother who died in tragic crash