Tributes flow for Wynnum student Declan Phillips, killed on his walk to school
Declan Phillips died on Wednesday after he was hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero near the notoriously low Wynnum Rail Bridge, known colloquially as the 'Duck Bridge'.
With a clearance of just 1.9 metres, it is the lowest bridge in Brisbane.
Declan was a student at nearby Wynnum State High School and played for the Wynnum Wolves Football Club.
Family friend Lisa Axam, who has started a GoFundMe page for funeral costs, said Declan died on a walk to school that he did every day.
She remembered him as a talented mathematician and woodworker, who loved camping, collecting model cars, Lego engineering and fitness.
'Declan had such a promising, bright future,' she said.
'Recently he made a camping stool out of canvas and wood and was looking forward to presenting it to his mum Lily for her birthday this weekend. He was also looking forward to making a wooden racing car in woodwork next term.
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Horrific rail crossing crash near Albany ignites calls for improved level crossing safety
Level crossing safety has been thrust into the spotlight after a mother of three was killed in a crash between a four-wheel-drive and a grain train at a rail crossing near Albany. Cailee Mansell, 29, died on Wednesday, July 16, after the Mitsubishi Triton her family were driving in was hit by a CBH Group train at a a level crossing in Redmond. Ms Mansell, who was a passenger, suffered critical injuries and died at the scene. Her heartbroken family have launched a fundraiser to support her husband and children left behind. In a post on fundraising site GoFundMe, organisers said Ms Mansell was 'a light upon this earth' who was taken far too soon. 'Her sudden passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of all who knew her,' the post read. 'She leaves behind her heartbroken husband, Haydn and their three young children, who now face life without their mum's warmth, love and guidance.' The donations — which amounted to more than $92,000 on Tuesday — will go to funeral and memorial expenses, child care and schooling needs, and daily living costs. Redmond residents living near the rail line have joined the calls for improved level crossings, with Carly Pateman-Baker — who lives 50m from the train line — telling ABC that 'no one stops' at the crossing. 'To find out this has happened right at our doorstep . . . is pretty scary,' she said. 'Normal train lines either have warning lights . . . or a barrier that comes down before a train is close to the railway line.' WA currently has 960 public road level crossings on operational rail lines, about half of which are fitted with flashing lights or boom gates. A State Government review conducted in 2023 deemed 13 of the passive crossings on State roads should be upgraded with active controls, but Countryman understands the Redmond crossing falls under the City of Albany. The accident occurred just weeks after a trio of WA families marked the 25-year anniversary of a fatal level crossing accident at Jennacubbine in the Wheatbelt. There were renewed calls for improved level crossing safety and mandatory lighting on trains. Each of these families — the Jensen, Broad and Smith families — are part of a national campaign called Improve Level Crossing Safety and Train Lighting, which includes nine other families from across Australia. Campaign spokeswoman Lara Jensen said the families' hearts 'broke all over again' when they heard about the Redmond crash — for Ms Mansell's family, as well as the two train drivers and emergency personnel involved. 'Australia's Rail Safety National Law states that the regulator, Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator must facilitate safe rail operations, yet in the last four years we have seen ONRSR ignore three train lighting reports it commissioned that all found additional lighting improves train visibility,' she said. 'It is deeply concerning that the rail industry is still not being made to comply with the findings of its own research. 'Rail companies operate businesses that create serious risks and so they have a responsibility to mitigate these risks by doing all they can to ensure their locomotives and rolling stock are clearly illuminated at all times for rural road users that interact with them at more than 18,000 regional crossings without lights or boom gates around Australia. 'Improving level crossings safety requires multiple actions, and fitting auxiliary lighting to locomotives and rolling stock (hazard, side, front and beacon lighting) is one such affordable corrective action that would improve safety and reduce preventable crashes and fatalities at regional railway crossings.' Central Wheatbelt MP Lachlan Hunter also doubled down on his calls for flashing lights to be made mandatory on trains. 'People will argue that this accident happened during the day,' he said. 'I know many farmers in my electorate who have farm machinery and they have to have lighting on their header or tractor as they move from farm-to-farm. This is not something I think is unreasonable. 'If you look at this crossing, it is a peculiar crossing . . . there is just one stop sign..' A statement from freight train operator Aurizon on Thursday confirmed the fatal collision, saying it, along with CBH, would assist police with the investigation. 'Tragically, a passenger in the vehicle lost her life in the incident and we extend our condolences to her family and friends,' the statement read. 'This incident will be felt deeply by the local community, including our train drivers and employees who live and work locally.' A CBH Group spokesman said the farmer-owned co-operative was 'deeply saddened'. 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the fatality at Redmond,' he said. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the deceased, and everyone affected by this tragedy. 'CBH and our rail services provider, Aurizon, are assisting the relevant authorities with their investigation.' It is understood the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will conduct an independent investigation, while major crash is also investigating the accident. Ms Mansell's death is one of 120 so far this year on WA roads, in a horror toll putting the State on track for its worst 12 months for fatalities in more than a decade.
7NEWS
a day ago
- 7NEWS
South African man Jonathan Green fighting for life after horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands
A man fighting for life after a head-on crash on a Queensland highway that claimed the lives of four people has suffered a series of horrific injuries — including rupturing the largest artery in the human body. Jonathan Green, 27, and his friend, 28, were in a Toyota Hilux that was hit head-on by a Holden Commodore on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: One of the worst weekends on Queensland roads. All four occupants of the Commodore — Corey Bietzel, 32, his friend Shaun Ranger, 28, and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 — died at the scene. Green was airlifted to Brisbane, while the 28-year-old was taken to a local hospital in a serious but stable condition. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. Green is originally from Randfontein, Gauteng, in South Africa, but is understood to have lived in Australia for several years. His sister Elizma Van Zyl said her brother has suffered significant injuries and is expected to have ongoing surgeries over the next four to five months as he recovers from the crash. 'He ruptured his aorta and lost all of his stomach muscles,' she said. 'He also has dead tissue and muscle that needed to be removed.' Van Zyl said her brother was 'fortunate' to have survived the accident and her heart 'goes out to the families that lost their loved ones'. She has started a Givealittle fundraiser to help cover the costs of her brother's medical care, recovery costs, and basic necessities once he is stable. The horror crash tore apart a family of five, with Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, now a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. The group in the Holden Commodore had been returning home from a camping trip, with Carla and Saphora travelling behind them in another car. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' On Monday, Bietzel was identified as the fourth deceased victim of the crash as his family shared a touching tribute describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. Following the crash, the Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Fourth victim of horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands identified
The fourth victim of a horrific head-on crash on a Queensland highway has been identified. Corey Bietzel was returning home from a camping trip with his friend Shaun Ranger and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, when they were involved in a collision on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The group were travelling in a Holden Commodore towards Blackwater when it struck a Toyota Hilux ute driving in the opposite direction. All four were declared dead at the scene. It is understood Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, was travelling in another car behind. Carla has been left a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. Bietzel's family on Monday revealed he was also involved in the crash as they shared a touching tribute, describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. The tributes for Bietzel come after it was revealed earlier on Monday a family of five had been torn apart by the deaths of Ranger and his two children. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' The two men inside the ute were both taken to hospital. A 28-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition, while a 27-year-old man was airlifted to Brisbane and is fighting for life. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. The Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
