‘Could have happened to anyone’: Family’s message for 17yo fatal crash driver

The family of a 14-year-old boy has issued a message of support for the learner driver behind the wheel of a car that fatally hit their son.

The family of a 14-year-old boy, who was fatally struck by a car while walking to school, has released a message of support for the young learner driver behind the wheel.

Declan Phillips’ parents, Lily and Daniel, released a statement to The Courier-Mail on Friday, two days after their heartbreaking loss.

“The pain we are feeling is unbearable but we don’t know how much worse it would be without the support we have had,” the statement read.

“We’re thankful for all of our family and friends who have surrounded us in love at this time.

“Thank you to the Wynnum community for all of your support and generosity. Declan has been a part of the community his whole life.

Declan Phillips was killed while crossing a road at Wynnum on Wednesday morning. Picture GoFundMe

Declan is being remembered as a skilled and talented boy with a bright future ahead of him. Picture: GoFundMe

“From community gardens and bushcare when he was younger, to Scouts, running with BSB and playing soccer at Bayside and Wolves, and his school community at Wynnum State School and Wynnum State High. Declan felt loved by all of these communities and continued to have lifelong bonds with the many people from them who cared for him.

“We feel for the driver and his family, he is only a little older than Declan. Declan was looking forward to learning to drive too. What happened to you both could have happened to anyone.”

The crash occurred on Berrima St, Wynnum, about 1.5km from Wynnum State High School, just after 8.20am on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old driver of a Mitsubishi Pajero, along with two passengers – a 41-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy – were not injured.

Authorities are treating the incident as an accident.

Declan has been remembered by those who knew him as a talented, gentle teenager with a bright future ahead of him.

“Declan had such a promising, bright future,” a family friend wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to support his grieving family.

Declan has been remembered as a ‘quiet achiever’ by a family friend. Picture: Google

“He was skilled and talented in a wide array of areas, from speed cubing, running and math through to woodwork and engineering.

“He loved camping, collecting model cars, Lego engineering and was working on his fitness goals – training and eating healthily and methodically.

“He had plans to be a tradie, live in the countryside and do up cars.

“He had already started saving towards his first car. He was proud of his achievements and his friends and family were proud of him.

“His chair which normally holds his school bag sits empty in the dining room. His hobbies, toys and iPad remain untouched. His room is quiet and still.”

Tributes near the crash site had been growing on Thursday afternoon, with the school and wider community rocked by the loss.

Declan’s family said they had seen the tributes and were hoping to have a permanent memorial put in place.

“Thank you so much to the people who responded to help Declan after the accident, we feel some comfort knowing he was looked after,” they said.

“We have seen all the beautiful flowers at the roundabout where Declan passed. We would like to have a permanent memorial for Declan placed at the tree at some time.”

Local state MP Joan Pease said the accident was “heartbreaking”.

“It’s heartbreaking for all those involved, the young person that sadly lost their life and also the driver of the other vehicle,” she said.

A fundraiser has been set up to help Declan’s family. Picture GoFundMe

“A young kid just off to school, like he’s done every other morning, and a terrible incident like that happens and impacts him, his family, all of the school students, his mates at school.

“He was a very highly respected young student, a very diligent and hardworking young man.

“This has really rocked our community.”

The fundraiser to support the family with funeral costs has been met with an outpouring of community generosity.

“Declan was a quiet achiever at school and somewhat shy, but when he set his mind to do something, he went all in and excelled. His favourite subjects were HPE and woodwork,” the family friend said.

“Most recently he made a camping stool out of canvas and wood and was looking forward to presenting it to his mum Lily for her birthday this weekend.

“He was also looking forward to making a wooden racing car in woodwork next term.

“He will be dearly missed by his friends and the whole Wynnum State High School community as well as all his friends outside the school, family and the wider Wynnum community.

“It is with a broken heart that I ask you to help the family say goodbye to their dear son, and our beloved friend, Declan.”

Originally published as ‘Could have happened to anyone’: Family’s message for 17yo fatal crash driver