Fourth Capricorn Highway crash victim Corey Bietzel remembered

The fourth victim tragically killed in a crash which claimed a dad and two children is being remembered as someone who “brought light and joy” to many.

Site of four fatality crash on Capricorn Hwy between Comet and Blackwater on Sunday, July 20. Hilux and Holden Commodore had head-on collision, two kids and two adults killed. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22

The fourth person tragically killed in a horror crash in which young children also died alongside their father, has been identified.

Corey Bietzel, 32, was in the same Holden Commodore as Shaun Ranger and his children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 when it was involved in a fatal head-on accident with a Toyota HiLux on the Capricorn Highway between Comet and Blackwater, west of Rockhampton on Sunday.

Shaun’s devastated fiancee and mother to their two-year-old child, Renee Carla, said they were heading home in separate cars after a camping trip.

Renee was in the car behind them with a friend when the crash occurred and she came onto the shocking scene where wreckage was on fire.

Corey Bietzel was in the same Holden Commodore as Shaun Ranger and his children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 when it was involved in a fatal head-on accident on the Capricorn Highway at Comet on Sunday, July 20 morning.

It’s understood Corey and Shaun worked together at lawn maintenance and rubbish removal Red Dirt Rustlers in Blackwater, two hours west of Rockhampton, run by Renee.

Corey’s heartbroken cousin, Taya-Marie Harper, described him as a person who “brought much joy and light to people's lives”.

She said in a GoFundMe for his family that his passing would leave an “irreplaceable void”.

“Corey, a loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend touched the hearts of many people... Corey was loved and cherished by many,” Taya-Marie said.

Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 were killed on July 20, 2025 in a vehicle crash on the Capricorn Hwy near Comet.

She said she started the fundraiser, which has raised more than $4000, to support the Bietzel family “to relieve the extra stress and heartache our family have to endure by raising as much needed funds to cover the cost of funeral expenses”.

Taya-Marie said the family would like to give Corey the sendoff he deserved, “a meaningful goodbye surrounded by the people who loved him”.

“As we come to terms with the unimaginable loss endured and think of the loved ones left behind, everything gathered from this fund will be used to support the Bietzel family memorial funds,” she said.

A memorial is taking shape alongside the Capricorn Hwy between Comet and Blackwater following the fatal crash on Sunday, July 20.

The two men in the HiLux were both taken to Emerald Hospital, with one, a 27-year-old, flown to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

He remains there in a critical condition.

The other man in the HiLux with him, a 28-year-old man, was taken to Rockhampton Hospital and is in a stable condition.

A GoFundMe created by family friend Chantel Semple to help Renee with the funeral expenses and supporting her youngest daughter Saphora has raised more than $50,000, with a goal of $80,000.

Chantel described Shaun as a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner.

Baylee had “a bubbly personality with a cheeky smile” and a love for horses and Chandler was described as a sweet and kindhearted little boy.

Shaun Ranger with daughter Saphora, 2, kids Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 and fiancee Renee Carla.

The children were young students at Blackwater State School, where counsellors are being provided for the heartbroken school students and staff.

The day after the accident, Rockhampton Police Inspector Ben Wiltshire said Central Queensland was in mourning.

“This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,” he said.

“These lives were cut short far too soon, leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.

“It’s a tragedy that reverberates not just through the families but through the entire Central Highlands community.”

Originally published as Fourth Capricorn Highway crash victim Corey Bietzel remembered