By Abbey Cannan
Three people have died in a devastating start to the busy school-holiday period with crashes on roads across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.
At about 1.15am on 14 September, a motorbike was travelling east along Central Avenue in Bells Creek, south of Noosa, when it entered an intersection and struck a Toyota Corolla, which was travelling south along Aura Boulevard.
The driver of the Corolla, 17-year-old Broc Dawson from Golden Beach, died at the scene.
His grieving mother, Krystn Dawson, shared a heartbreaking statement on Facebook on Sunday.
“I just want to thank all the people who have reached out to me and my family since yesterday morning over the loss of my son Broc,” Krystn said. “Some of you may know him, a lot probably don’t, but he touched many people’s hearts in his short time with us!
“I appreciate all your kind words and thoughts… You will never fully understand what we are going through unless you have been in this situation yourself.
“Please spend time with your loved ones, tell them how much they mean to you before you never get the chance to again.”
Krystn said Broc was a kind, generous soul who had his whole life ahead of him.
“He wanted to be a pilot and was well on the way to doing this. He had not long gotten his licence and was so excited to be able to go out with his mates without having mum tag along as the third wheel,” she said.
“My life will never be the same and my upcoming birthday will now no longer be a time of celebration but a time of great loss and suffering.
“If you have taken the time to read this, I appreciate it, and please remember life is short, so live in the moment because you never know when it will be your last.”
His passenger, a 16-year-old Banya boy, was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with minor injuries.
The motorbike rider, a man in his 30s, also died at the scene.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether speed was a factor, are continuing.
Witnesses, particularly anyone with relevant vision of the motorbike prior to the crash, are urged to contact police.
The next day in Gympie, a 56-year-old Victorian man died after a ute he was driving left Blacksnake Rd and hit a tree in Kilkivan on Sunday 15 September.
Forensic Crash Unit investigations are ongoing.
Both crashes came just days after the launch of Operation Spring Break, a state-wide road safety initiative targeting unsafe driving behaviours during the school-holiday travel period.
More than 200 people have tragically lost their lives on Queensland roads this year, with many of these fatalities caused by speeding and dangerous driving.
Police are urging all motorists to be mindful of their driving and take necessary precautions to ensure everyone reaches their destinations safely.
