Lessons not learnt by tragic loss of young lives

THE twisted wreckage of a stolen Kia strewn across Bayswater Rd and Duckworth St in Garbutt will be remembered by many in Townsville as a tragic symbol of a violent loss of four young lives. With the roof completely caved in and the body of the car wrenched laterally, it’s incredible to imagine how anyone could have survived the carnage.

It’s also sadly not suprising from viewing the scene how quickly the two boys and two girls, aged between 14 and 17, were killed.

The 14-year-old boy who survived, the driver of the car, is still serving part of a five-year jail term after being found guilty of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death. For legal reasons, he cannot be named.

They were later identified as Lucius Dallas Hure-hill, now known as Barefoot, 13, Cayenne Muriel Robertson, 14, Rayveena Tyrone Coolwell, 15, and Aaliyah Kiri Kowhi Te Paa, 17.

The coronial inquest starting today will hopefully shed new light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash on Sunday, June 7, 2020, and the ultimate hope is that lessons can be learned from the close examination of the facts around the moments leading up to the high-speed wreck and the investigation that followed.

The three-day inquest will look into four key points including the adequacy and appropriateness of the actions of the Queensland Police Service.

The saddest reality is that the potential for another horror smash still exists almost any night of the week in Townsville, given the number of cars routinely stolen and joy-ridden by young crims on our streets.