Jacob Donohue: Telita teen dead in Oatlands highway horror

“He was always the safest driver I knew, I can’t wrap my head around it”: A Tassie teen who brought a smile to the face of all he played with or against in cricket and AFL is being mourned.

Telita's Jacob Donohue, 19, has lost his life in a horror head-on highway smash near Oatlands. Picture: Facebook

Northern Tasmania is in mourning after a cheeky teenager who brought a smile to all he played for or against in cricket or AFL lost his life in a horror head-on highway smash in the early hours of Friday morning.

19-year-old Telita driver Jacob Donohue died about 12.15am when his gold Kia Sportage Wagon collided head-on with an oncoming truck on the Midlands Highway, south of York Plains, Oatlands.

Mr Donohue’s 19-year-old passenger, a Western Australian man, was transported to Royal Hobart Hospital in a critical condition.

Braiden Salter knew Mr Donohue for about two years – they played together for the Cressy Bulldogs (now Western Tiers Cricket Club) and against each other in the Northern Tasmanian Football League. Mr Salter played for South Launceston, while Mr Donohue turned out for Bracknell.

“He was a good bloke, I always was able to have a laugh and a bit of banter with him,” Mr Salter said.

Telita's Jacob Donohue, 19, has lost his life in a horror head-on highway smash near Oatlands. Picture: Facebook

“It was such a shock, he was always the safest driver I knew, I can’t wrap my head around it.”

Mr Salter said his best memories with his mate were dressing room drinks – Bundy rums, to be exact – after a hard-fought duel on the cricket pitch.

“I wasn’t the best player, so he always used to send me Shane Warne highlights off YouTube,” Mr Salter said.

But nothing could top the day Mr Salter ran Mr Donohue down in a match between South Launceston and Bracknell.

“I got him for holding the ball, I never let him live it down,” Mr Salter said.

Telita's Jacob Donohue, 19, has lost his life in a horror head-on highway smash near Oatlands. Picture: Facebook

Mr Donohue’s friend Italanie Wright took to social media to reveal her heartbreak.

“I just want to see you one more time... This can’t be fair,” she said.

Bracknell Football Club’s Neil Philpott said Mr Donohue “loved his footy” and loved the club which loved him back.

“He was one of those boys everyone just liked, he had one of those personalities about him,” Mr Philpott said.

“He’ll be sadly missed, that’s for sure.”

It’s understood Mr Donohue graduated from Newstead’s Scotch Oakburn College last year.

Mr Donohue was employed as a herd recorder with Hadspen’s TasHerd, a dairy herd improvement firm.