Western Downs father Dale Aaron Mckenna identified as the victim of a fatal Kogan car crash

A family friend close to the victim of a fatal car crash in regional Queensland has launched a fundraiser to help his family stay on their feet as tributes continue to pour in for the ‘devoted father’.

Loved ones continue to share their devastation of the loss of young man and father who was killed in a car crash in the Western Downs last week, with a fundraiser launched to raise money to assist the man’s family.

Dale Mckenna, also known to friends and family as ‘Boogie’, was one of three people traveling in a car on Tara-Kogan Rd when it was allegedly “deliberately rammed” into by another man, causing it to roll over.

The 22-year-old Goranba man suffered critical injuries in the crash and was transferred to a Brisbane intensive care unit, where tragically his life support was turned off on May 31.

Mr Mckenna tragically leaves behind his three children, who are all under the age of five, and the mother of his children Jamie.

A close family friend, who wished to remain unnamed, said they launched the GoFundMe page with the aim of taking “the burden away” from Mr Mckenna’s family, in terms of covering funeral and everyday costs.

“His little people are going to need help along the way and being a single mum is a hard slog,” they said.

“It will take a long time to heal from this for the family and going back to work shouldn’t be a priority until it needs to be.”

So far the GoFundMe page has raised more than $8600 and has a target goal of $15,000.

The heartbroken best friend and former colleague of a Mr Mckenna shared her grief of the loss of a friend she felt was like “family” and who she described as “always bubbly, lovely and happy”.

Long-time friend Ravyn Warzecha said she met the “talented young horsemen” more than a decade ago at Wambo feedlot where he and his family would work.

“We lived and worked together for a couple years, he and I went droving for a man, Andrew Burnes in central Queensland and worked young horses together,” she said.

“He was a hell of a horseman. I’d never seen a horse he couldn’t get a buck out of, he rode some tough horses but he was so talented.”

Ms Warzecha described Mr Mckenna’s family as being like her own, and said she’d never met someone who took to fatherhood like he had, explaining that his world revolved around his eldest daughter when she was born.

“The day Jamie went into labour he was like, ‘I’ve got to go meet my new daughter’,” she said.

“He was so smitten with his kids. I’ve seen him grow up, I’ve seen some of the best parts of his life.”

Reflecting on her favourite memories of the young man, Ms Warzecha said a family photo day stuck out as one of the moments that encapsulated Mr Mckenna perfectly.

“I’ve got photos from that day where he’s carrying my camera bag and he’s doing this stupid strut but he’s got the biggest smile on his face,” she said.

“I’m laughing and taking photos, that’s Dale. That was who he was. He didn’t want to put a hat on and he didn’t want to take his sunnies off, I said ‘c’mon Dale these are family photos’, but you couldn’t get him to be serious.

“He had to be the laugh of the day.”

Ms Warzecha shared that his ‘larrikin’ ways were her favourite part about him, and that she’d never met a person that didn’t take to him.

“You would be bored out of your brain and Dale would come flying down on a two wheeler with your lunch, do a skid being a larrikin,” she said.

“Every memory I have of Dale is a good one. He was such a loveable character of a person and was always bubbly, lovely and happy. That was him.”

Earlier in the week Mr Mckenna had matters listed in Dalby Magistrates Court, where his charges were mentioned and the police prosecutor told the court of his passing, with the charges discontinued by the magistrate.

It was confirmed to the court that Mr Mckenna’s life support was turned off at 10pm Wednesday night.

The 36-year-old man accused of ramming the Holden Colorado Mr Mckenna was travelling in was initially charged with one count of dangerous operation of vehicle causing grievous bodily harm, but has now had his charges upgraded to one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Anyone with information on the crash should contact Policelink on 131 444.

Originally published as Western Downs father Dale Aaron Mckenna identified as the victim of a fatal Kogan car crash