Identity of man killed in St George crash revealed

The student was travelling through Outback Queensland to help stranded friends when disaster struck. Now there has been a massive outpouring of support.

Raju Chikati, 27, who had dreams to study abroad and completed his masters degree in Sydney last year, has been identified as the man who devastatingly lost his life in a crash in Southwest Queensland recently.

It’s something no parent should ever have to experience, and now the family of a man who recently lost his life in a devastating crash in southwest Queensland, is mourning their beloved son.

A Go-Fund-Me campaign has been set-up for the family of Raju Chikati, 27, who died after the crash on the Carnarvon Highway about 27km from St George.

Originally from India, the young man had dreams to study abroad and completed his masters degree in networking last year at the Melbourne Institute of Technology in Sydney.

It is believed Mr Chikati and his two friends were travelling north on the Carnarvon Highway late at night to assist their friends who were stranded in a remote area of Queensland.

Heartbreakingly, Mr Chikati was killed when the vehicle that he was travelling in hit a kangaroo and crashed into a tree.

His two friends who were also in the car at the time of the incident were injured, but survived the crash.

Both men were transported to hospital in a stable condition and were treated for facial injuries, chest pain and abrasions.

Friends and the Brisbane Telangana Association Team attended the remote site near St George and assisted crews from QAS and QPS with their inquiries.

The Go-Fund-Me campaign organiser wrote on the page that Mr Chikati “is the son of a very poor family” who lived in the Manchirial district within the Luxettipet village of India.

A group of Mr Chikati’s friends set-up the campaign to help raise funds for his funeral and to return his body to his family in India.

Mr Chikati leaves behind his parents and a younger brother and sister.

The magnitude of the tragic incident and family’s loss has not been lost on the community, with many members of the general public making donations.

One generous donor said “no parents should go through such a big loss” while another said Mr Chikati needed to go home because his parents were waiting.

After less than 24 hours of going live, the online campaign had already raised more than $80,000 of its $100,000 target.

To donate, click here.

Earlier – January 3

A person has died following a crash in southwest Queensland.

The fatal incident occurred on Monday morning about 2.30am, near St George, when the male driver who was aged in his 20s, hit a kangaroo and then collided with a tree.

Sadly, a male passenger passed away at the scene.

The kangaroo was also killed.

Preliminary investigations conducted by QPS have revealed the car was travelling north on the Carnarvon Highway, approximately 27km from St George.

The deceased patient was transported to St George Hospital, along with two male occupants, also aged in their 20s.

Paramedics from QAS transported two patients to hospital in stable conditions, treating one man for facial injuries and the other for chest pain and abrasions.

Police investigations are underway.