83yo dies after church
Alleged drink-driver who left scene still in car when arrested
An alleged drink-driver was still in his car when police arrested him at a Currumbin property following a fatal crash in Tugun.
Kathy Kelly, 83, died after being hit by a black Mazda 3 hatchback at Golden Four Dr at 6.51pm on Saturday.
Ms Kelly, who was visiting family from America, had been walking home after attending a 6pm service at St Monica’s Catholic Church.
Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics took the woman to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with head, chest, pelvis and limb injuries. She died there on Sunday night.
Following the crash a large number of locals stopped to help the woman, comforting her and bringing blankets until an ambulance arrived.
However, it was alleged that despite initially stopping at the scene, the suspected driver of the car, a 30-year-old Currumbin man, left a short time later.
“When police arrived QAS were already on the scene treating the woman and she was subsequently taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with quite severe injuries,” Acting Superintendent Tim Mowle said.
“Some time later police located the driver of the vehicle at a nearby Currumbin address.
“The driver of the vehicle had originally stopped at the incident location and got out of the vehicle with a passenger.
“The passenger remained at the incident scene, however the driver got back in the vehicle and left the scene.”
Police will allege that when they found the man a short time later in Currumbin he was still in his vehicle.
They will also allege that he blew 0.125 in a subsequent breath test.
He has been issued with a notice to appear for mid-range drink driving and will appear at Coolangatta Magistrates Court on March 25.
Acting Superintendent Mowle said Forensic Crash Unit investigators were working to establish the circumstances leading up to the crash.
He said the outcome of their investigation would “ultimately inform” whether further charges were laid.
“There will be a number of factors (that) we look at there – the manner of driving, road conditions at the time, weather conditions, lighting, things of that nature,” he said.
He said police were appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident to come forward.
On Monday, members of the public who witnessed the incident sent messages of sympathy and support to Ms Kelly’s family.
“This probably doesn’t appease your pain, but know that many people were around your grandma and never left her side,” one woman said.
“They held her hand and talked to her, brought her blankets, and did their best to comfort her. I’m so sorry for your loss.”