Toowoomba woman calls for action after elderly mother involved in hit and run crash

A simple trip to a bakery for morning tea almost cost an 83-year-old former teacher her life, after she became one of the latest victims of Queensland’s crime epidemic when a suspected stolen car slammed into her car.

When Wendy DeKoster saw the twisted wreckage of her mother’s car, all she could think of was what could have been.

“I had a physical reaction, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t speak I just burst into tears,” she said.

“If the impact had of been on the driver’s door, she wouldn’t be with us today, she’d be dead.”

Ms DeKoster’s mother, an 83-year-old former Toowoomba teacher, was on her way to O’Donnell’s Bakehouse, a journey of only minutes, to get a morning tea treat when about 6.45am she was cleaned up by a suspected stolen car.

The collision on Tor St in Cranley Thursday morning caused extensive damage to the elderly woman’s car, not that the occupants of the second vehicle stuck around to see for themselves.

Thankfully she suffered only minor injuries, and friends of the former teacher were not far behind to lend a hand and call emergency services.

The wreckage of an 83-year-old woman's car following a hit and run in Cranley on Tor St at 6.45am on Thursday, February 15 2024.

“(Her friends) rang me pretty quickly and told me what had happened, but I had to call police, ambulance, hospital to find out where mum was,” Ms DeKoster said.

After a paramedic called and told Ms Dekoster that her mother was safe and on her way to hospital with only minor injuries, the attention turned to what was left of the vehicle.

Ms DeKoster said she went to get her mother’s belongings from the car, and was shocked by how narrowly tragedy was avoided.

“It’s a miracle that she is still with us,” Ms DeKoster said.

“I had such a physical, emotional, violent reaction and is that what people need to see to know what’s going on.

“I’ve seen car wrecks on TV but it’s completely different when it’s your loved ones but are we seeing the impacts are we understanding it.”

The wreckage of an 83-year-old woman's car following a hit and run in Cranley on Tor St at 6.45am on Thursday, February 15 2024.

While praising the efforts of all emergency services in assisting her mother, Ms DeKoster said their frustration in continually responding to similar incidents was “palpable”.

“This needless carnage is frustrating for the people on the ground, you can hear it in their voices,” she said.

“Mum is an ex-teacher and does volunteer work at youth outreach and works with troubled youth so it’s ironic that someone who has dedicated her life to supporting the disadvantaged ends up in this situation.

“I’m very angry and at times I don’t think the punishment fits the crime so as a daughter I want to see justice but as a community member I want to see a conversation, not just a reaction.

“It’s a double-edged sword, the punishment needs to fit the crime but we have got to get the right mechanisms in place for the disenfranchised and underprivileged, there needs to be punishment but also there needs to be support. This is a call to arms to strengthen penalties, bolster support and find an effective communication system.

“I hope police can track these people down so we can sit down with them and help them realise the consequences of their actions because this just hasn’t impacted my mum and our family, but also the people she works with, her church, the whole community.”

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said the forensic crash unit was investigating the incident, but would not confirm if the second vehicle involved was stolen.

Anyone with footage of the incident or was a witness are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.