Caitlyn Bragger, 15, was killed in a crash that injured five other teens travelling in a 4WD when it rolled south of Perth

West Australian

2 days ago

A 15-year-old girl who was killed in a 4WD that rolled on the weekend has been remembered as an angel who brought sunshine with her everywhere she went.
Caitlyn Bragger, 15, was a passenger in a Toyota Landcruiser carrying five other teenagers when it rolled off Scarp Rd in Hoffman, 150km south of Perth, about 8pm on Saturday.
Volunteer firefighters freed one of the passengers who was trapped in the wreckage.
The 16-year old male driver and a 17-year-old male passenger were seriously injured in the crash and were rushed to Bunbury Hospital.
Three other passengers were treated for minor injuries.
The group had been camping nearby when the crash occurred with witnesses saying the car had been crushed like a tin can.
'It was scary to see,' one man said.
Family friend Mekayla Cowcher paid tribute to the 15-year-old girl 'gone way too soon' and setup a fundraiser to help the family with funeral costs.
She said Caitlyn's family were left broken, lost and confused.
'(Caitlyn was) known for her kindness, unique sense of humour, and devotion to her family and friends,' she said.
'She bought a ray of sunshine everywhere she went, so outgoing and never left a dull moment in life.
' No one ever expects something like this to happen, you can't prepare yourself.
'We never expected to say goodbye to her beautiful soul so soon.
'Forever 15, forever in our memory and hearts. Our Angel In Heaven.'
WA's road toll has reached 87 lives, the highest number of deaths in more than a decade.
Premier Roger Cook told media it was an unacceptable figure that could be prevented it people did everything they could to keep themselves and others safe on the road.
The premier said they were looking at what was working in other states and overseas and what technology was available to keep roads safer.
'That's why we've got our deep dive into our road safety measures at the moment, reviewing what else we can do as a government,' he said.
Shadow Road Safety Minister Julie Freeman said it was a heartbreaking and unacceptable milestone.
'Regional road deaths continue to make up a disproportionate share of the toll,' she said.
'These are our communities. We're on the ground, we're working with regional organisations, and we need to be part
of finding solutions.
'We need a coordinated, bipartisan effort to turn this around, because too many lives depend on it.'