Fatal Sarina hit and run: Tributes flow for Jordan Blanch

Friends say they will miss a young father of three’s smile and cheeky humour after he died in a hit and run that sent shockwaves through a small Queensland town. Police say a five-minute window could be the key to solving the hit and run.

Police say a five-minute window could be the key to solving the hit and run that killed a Sarina father of three.

Loved ones are reeling over the tragic loss of Jordan Blanch, who was fatally stuck on Sarina Beach Rd in the early hours of Mother’s Day.

Police say the 27 year old had been walking towards Sarina along an unlit section of the rural road moments before the tragedy occurred between 5.30am and 5.40am.

Tragically Mr Blanch died on the roadside.

Investigations suggest Mr Blanch had been in the westbound lane when an unknown vehicle fatally struck him.

“We’ve had a number of people stop at the time but we’re still looking for a dark-coloured SUV that may have gone past and may have been involved or may have been a witness,” Mackay Acting Inspector Anthony Cowan said.

Acting Inspector Cowan said only five minutes separated a driver who saw the man alive in the middle of the road and off-duty police arriving.
“The car might not have realised they hit a person if there was a person on the ground,” he said.

At this stage no one has come forward and police are still searching for the driver.

Sarina man Jordan Blanch was tragically killed in a hit and run on Sarina Beach Rd on Mother's Day.

Kayla Rawhiti set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money for his funeral to “try relieve the stress of his parents and family during this next part of their journey”.

“Jordan impacted a lot of souls in good ways, more than anyone knew,” the post read.

“His social choices were not always appropriate and accepted, this caused him to be excluded by some of the most important people in his life and yet his poor choices never changed his good character and who he was as a person.

“He was always polite and respectful.

“Even when he didn’t want to, (he) would get in and help everyone that needed it or not, sometimes putting himself out.

“He was never bias(ed) or judged anyone, whether he knew them or not, he was kind like that and maintained his morals and the way he treated other people, no matter how bad others treated him.

“He always found a way to forgive them and move forward.

“We thought highly of him no matter how low he thought he was.

“His babies Corbin, Emori and Ryan were his everything even though he didn’t get to see them as often as he wanted.

“Every now and then you could tell the sorrow in his eyes from missing his kids.

“He was adopted by a lot of other families, like ours; loved and know him as brother or uncle. His story will be cherished by us all and shared in memory.

“You have already left a big hole in our little town bro, your bestest mates all over Queensland and the rest of us are truly going to miss your smile, and cheeky humour.

“I know your (sic) safe now and I hope you rest well until we all meet again brother.”

“You will be sorely missed … fly high,” one friend shared on social media after the tragic news broke.

Sarina man Jordan Blanch was tragically killed in a hit and run on Sarina Beach Rd on Mother's Day 2022. Picture: Go Fund Me

“My heart is broken … love to his family and my little mate,” another friend wrote.

“My heart goes to a certain family,” another person shared.

“I am thinking of you all. Today should of (sic) never happened and I feel so sad for you.

“Fly high mate, we’ll look after your mum.”

In a Facebook post, Cinn Jade Woods said friends and family had asked for photos of Jordan.

“I would like to ask that you send all photos you have of and with him to me please before Friday as we would like include all parts of his life,” she said.

“In the next few days I will announce funeral and wake information for those wanting to attend.

“The family is still asking for time to themselves.

“Thank you all for your love and support it is appreciated.”

Police were called to Sarina about 5.50am on Sunday after a man was found lying on the road. Tragically he died at the scene. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Police are unsure if Mr Blanch was standing or on the ground when the tragedy occurred because witness accounts varied.

“Evidence is that he may have been walking in the middle of the road and intoxicated,” Acting Inspector Cowan said, adding a driver had come across him walking in the middle of the road before he was struck.

“They beeped the horn and told him to get off,” he said.

“Then shortly after, a member of the public found him (on the ground) and then off-duty police on the way to work came across him and tried to render assistance.”

Mr Blanch died at the scene before police could help.

Acting Inspector Anthony Cowan said police were looking for the driver of a vehicle linked to a fatal hit and run at Sarina Beach Rd on Mother’s Day 2022. Picture: Ashley Pillhofer

“They might have thought they hit a dog or an animal,” Acting Inspector Cowan said.

“There were a number of vehicles in the area and the only one we haven’t spoken to yet is a dark SUV.”

Emergency crews blocked all traffic on Sarina Beach Rd in the area for several hours as police investigated the scene on Sunday.

“We’re asking for members of the public if they were driving around at the time if they have any information or dash cam to please come forward,” Acting Inspector Cowan said.

He added further investigation would shed more information once the vehicle could be analysed and they would likely test blood from Mr Blanch as well.

Mr Blanch’s death on is one of four on Mackay Whitsunday region roads in the past week.

Dysart man Jacob Betts also died on Mother’s Day less than an hour before Mr Blanch.

He had been riding a black motorcycle he adored when it and a Toyota Corolla collided on Horse and Jockey Rd, near the Meadowlands Rd intersection about 5.05am.

On Friday, Glenlee man Darren Holley, 50, died in a serious Bruce Highway crash between Mackay and Rockhampton.

It comes after Whitsunday 12-year-old Stirling Edwards-Bland died in a crash that seriously injured his twin brother Austin on their way back from a swim meet in Townsville last Sunday.

Originally published as Fatal Sarina hit and run: Tributes flow for Jordan Blanch