Heartbroken son of Strathmerton crash victim Debbie Markey remembers loving mum

The son of Cobram woman Debbie Markey who was killed in Victoria’s worst road accident in more than a decade was “a ridiculously fun and energetic person”, who had time for all.

Strathmerton crash victim Deborah Markey. Source: Facebook

One of the victims in the horrific Strathmerton fatal collision has been identified as Cobram woman Debbie Markey.

The 62-year-old is being remembered as “the life of the party” and someone who loved serving her community.

Her devastated son, Daniel Montero, told the Herald Sun she was a “very proud mum and a great chef”.

Mr Montero said he would remember his mum as “a ridiculously fun and energetic person”.

“She had time for everyone and she was way too forgiving,” he said.

“Her life has not been easy but she really found her purpose looking after these foreign nationals.

“She was the life of the party at every event and a hard working community member.”

Ms Markey worked odd jobs around Cobram and hosted international workers at her rural property.

Four of those workers, aged between 23 and 30, also died instantly on Thursday when Ms Markey’s ute was shunted into the path of an oncoming truck.

Distraught relatives of the international victims arrived at Melbourne Airport on Saturday morning and told 10 News they could not accept the tragedy of what had happened.

“We raised him for 25 years and he’s gone,” a woman said about her son.

“This year in February, our son arrived in Australia.

“I never imagined within two months he would be in this situation.”

It is understood the four international victims were working at the JBS abattoir in Cobram and until recently, were staying at the Barooga Golf View Motel.

To extend a working holiday visa in Australia, travellers are required to complete 88 days of work in rural conditions and many head to farms and industrial work in the regions.

State member for the Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said it was “such a tragic accident”.

“It has a massive impact on the community whether the people are strong in the community or whether they are new to town,” he said.

Victim of Strathmerton crash Deborah Markey. Source: Facebook

Deborah has been remembered as a ‘proud mum’. Source: Facebook

“It’s such a tragic accident … it really does hit the community hard.”

After being released from hospital, the driver of the B-double truck was taken back to Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton on Friday with head injuries and reports of migraines.

The accused driver, Christopher Joannidis, 29 of Doncaster, returned to Melbourne on Friday night after being granted bail during a brief coourt hearing at Shepparton Magistrates Court.

He was charged with five counts of dangerous driving causing death, and is yet to enter pleas.

Police allege Joannidis failed to stop his Mercedes at the intersection of Labuan Rd and the Murray Valley Highway.

Joannidis, who owns a coffee roasting business in Clayton, was pulled over just minutes before the crash, after a police patrol clocked him at 118km/h.

He told police he was travelling to a friend’s wedding in Armidale in NSW, which was due to take place on Saturday.

Joannidis’s girlfriend, who was a passenger in his car, suffered minor injuries and was released from hospital on Friday.

Police are investigating whether Joannidis had drugs in his system, after roadside drug tests returned conflicting results.

According to documents filed in court on Friday, Joannidis was “visibly upset” when police told him the crash claimed five lives.