Toowoomba woman dead, boy fighting for life after Kearneys Spring crash

Tributes and condolences have poured out for a young woman who died after a horrific crash on Sunday night in Toowoomba and left the 16-year-old driver fighting for his life.

Emergency services respond to a serious car crash late on Sunday night along Spring Street.

Condolences and grief have poured out after the devastating loss of 22-year-old Abul Deng on Sunday night after a tragic crash in Kearneys Spring.

The Sunday night horror crash which took the life of Abul Deng and left the 16-year-old driver in critical condition, and three others in hospital, has shocked the community - leaving family and friends grieving and grappling.

Condolences and grief have poured out after the devastating loss of 22-year-old Abul Deng on Saturday night after a tragic crash in Kearneys Spring.

Five families have been affected by the crash along Spring St, four families were part of the Sudanese community attending St James Anglican Church in Toowoomba.

Abul Deng attended Harristown State High School and had worked jobs in hospitality.

One friend, who wished to remain unnamed, knew her briefly from school, and described her as a “knight in shining armour” as she rescued her one night in a club from a “creepy guy”.

“She was so kind-hearted,” she said.

“I didn’t know her super well but knew her enough for me to be heartbroken and distraught that she’s gone, she is an angel that how now gained her wings early,” she said.

Tributes from her friends and colleagues were shared on social media.

“She was such a lovely girl,” Rianna Castle-Smith said.

Flowers tied to the pole where a tragic crash occurred. Condolences and grief have poured out after the devastating loss of 22-year-old Abul Deng on Saturday night after a tragic crash in Kearneys Spring.

“Always in my heart Abully,” Mackenzie Docherty said.

“Rest peacefully beautiful Abul. You touched so many hearts. I’m so grateful that my girls had a beautiful friend like you,” Mandy Gav Jones wrote.

“Rest in peace Eliza Deng we will forever miss you, your coworkers miss you so much, and send our best to your family, you were taken too early,” Shakira Schroeder wrote.

Police said that around 11.30pm, a silver Mazda was travelling west on Spring Street in Kearney Spring when it left the road and crashed into a pole at the intersection with Spring Street.

The woman died at the scene.

Three other passengers, a 17-year-old girl, 20-year-old woman and 20-year-old man, were taken to the Toowoomba Base Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the vehicle, a 16-year-old Kearneys Spring man, was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with life-threatening head injuries after initially being taken to Toowoomba Hospital.

Emergency services respond to a serious car crash late on Sunday night along Spring Street.

Queensland Ambulance Service said the teenage girl injured in the crash and the 20-year-old woman both suffered significant leg injuries.

The 20-year-old man had non-life threatening neck and shoulder injuries.

Forensic Crash Unit investigations remain ongoing.

Any witnesses, or anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam vision is urged to contact police.

On Friday, police issued a sobering report over the state’s fatality statistics, expecting the deadliest road toll on record.

As of this week, the state is sitting at 287 lives lost, up from 210 killed in 2019.

Across the Southern Region there have been a total of 59 lives lost with 29 recorded in the Darling Downs District, 18 in Ipswich District and 12 in South West District.

With large numbers of driver expected to hit the road over the Christmas period, Senior Sergeant Kim Hill from the Toowoomba Highway Patrol is calling on everyone to do their part to stem the loss of lives.

“We need to be courteous to each other, obey the road rules, ensure that we are not speeding, that we have our seatbelts on, that we are not driving impaired or distracted,” she said.

State member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki expressed condolences to the family and friends affected by the weekend’s fatalities.

“I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the young woman who lost her life,” he said.

“This is a devastating event for our community and my thoughts are with all of those impacted.”

Originally published as Toowoomba woman dead, boy fighting for life after Kearneys Spring crash