Mum of Olivia Chivers, 17, reveals daughter’s final words to her before fatal hit-and-run
The mum of a girl killed in a hit-and-run this week has opened up on the final moments of her daughter’s life and the tragic four words the 17yo said.
A beloved teenager killed in a horror hit-and-run this week said “I love you, mum” just hours before she was fatally struck in Brisbane’s north.
Olivia Chivers had been with friends on Monday night but separated from them as she went to find help after their car broke down on the side of the road in Margate.
The 17-year-old girl was then struck by a ute along Margate Parade about 11.30pm.
She was left with critical injuries and died at the scene despite paramedics’ best efforts.
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Speaking for the first time since Olivia’s sudden death, Tracey Chivers said the last moment she shared with her daughter was a kiss before her youngest child said, “I love you, mum”.
Ms Chivers also found out pastor John Lean and other bystanders rushed to the aid of 17-year-old by bringing towels to stop the bleeding all while comforting her.
“She was never afraid of dying, because she knew she would go to heaven, so it didn’t scare her, not that she wanted to go,” the heartbroken mother told The Courier Mail.
“And I just think with how she passed, with them all being around – it was like divine timing.”
Pastor Lean said he did not see any fear in Olivia’s eyes as he held her hands.
“It was amazing to think God would use us to hopefully be of help to her in those last moments,” he also told the publication.
Olivia, who received her learner’s licence in the mail the day she died, aspired to be a songwriter with her sister and was just one month away from turning 18.
The Chivers family has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the teen’s funeral and to help give the family financial “breathing space” to mourn.
“She had a way of ensuring everyone she crossed paths with felt cared for and understood,” the fundraiser read.
“Olivia loved to write song lyrics, Lana Del Rey, and the colour pink. She also adored her dog, a Chihuahua named Diva, who is actually a boy with a girl’s name — buying toys for him even before she knew she was getting one.
“Her tragic loss is incomprehensible. Those who loved her say she never truly realised how beautiful, how loved, and how special she really was. She never realised just how much she touched the people around her.”
‘Killed someone’
The driver accused of killing the teen and failing to stop allegedly left a voicemail on his ex partner’s phone saying “I just killed someone”.
Frank Moneger, 58, was the alleged motorist behind the wheel of the white Nissan Navara ute which struck Olivia on Monday.
“She’s dead. She’s dead. It’s really bad,” he allegedly said in the voice message.
The court also heard he allegedly told his son that he “at the last second … saw something on the road and swerved”.
Mr Moneger was arrested by detectives at his home in Scarborough the next morning.
In bodycam footage released by Queensland Police, the 58-year-old is seen heavily blurred but remained calm as he was led away by officers.
He was charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and left scene of incident without obtaining help.
His charge specifies that he dangerously operated a vehicle in Margate and caused Olivia’s death, and that the time he “ought reasonably to have known the other person had been injured and … left the scene of the incident other than to obtain other help for the other person before a police officer arrived”.
On Wednesday, Mr Moneger fronted Redcliffe Magistrates Court via video link, dressed in a black sweater and sporting long hair and a short grey beard, Newswire reported.
He was supported in court by one of his neighbours, John.
Bail was opposed, with police prosecutor Sheree Wilde recounting the alleged events of the night which led to Olivia’s death.
She told the court the teenager was out driving around with her friends and had been drinking on Monday night when their car broke down in Margate.
One witness allegedly heard a vehicle “travelling fast” before hearing a “thump”.
“He’s turned around and seen a white-coloured ute … he heard a male voice say ‘f*ck’ and then observed the vehicle take off north,” Acting Sergeant Wilde said.
Another allegedly saw the white ute go through the roundabout “at speed” before seeing the dead teenager lying in the middle of the road.
Acting Sergeant Wilde said Mr Moneger was alleged to have told police he was involved in a crash, but thought he had hit a roundabout.
He claimed to have not known he had hit someone until he saw the news that morning.
Mr Moneger allegedly told officers he did not phone police as he wanted to “process” what had happened, she said.
The magistrate refused bail due to the 58-year-old’s alleged admissions about his consumption of alcohol, the drug cannabis and his mental health struggles.
He also has a history of traffic violations across two states which included driving while under the influence and while disqualified.
Mr Moneger may remain behind bars until his case returns to court on February 12.
- with Newswire
