STUDENT REMEMBERED
A 17- YEAR- OLD Charters Towers student has been remembered fondly after he died in a crash on Flinders Highway.
The crash, which took Jackie Koglkia’s life, happened about 2.30pm on Saturday.
The Papua New Guinea born student was a talented athlete and musician.
Police are investigating how the crash happened.
A YOUNG man who died in a crash on the Flinders Highway was a talented student, athlete and musician.
Friends, family and classmates are mourning the death of Jackie Koglkia after his utility swerved off the highway about 2.30pm on Saturday, 8.5km south of the Woodstock turn- off at Calcium.
Police said the 17- year- old male driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Koglkia was raised in Kundiawa, Simbu Province in the highlands region of Papua New Guinea.
The All Souls St Gabriels School student recently became an Australian citizen.
He was an arts prefect and was known for his rugby league skills.
“Rest easy Jackie,” one friend wrote in an online tribute.
“I will always be thinking of you mate. You were taken too early. Love you mate.”
Townsville Police Forensic Crash Unit Senior Constable Gemma Williamson said the man had been travelling towards Charters Towers when the crash happened.
She said investigators had ruled out the state of the road and weather as possible causes of the crash.
“We don’t believe drugs or alcohol were a factor,” she said.
“We’ve just started the investigation.
“We’ll look at a mechanical inspection of the vehicle and driver inexperience.
“It’s a high- speed zone ( where the crash took place), 110km/ h. We don’t believe he was speeding.”
She confirmed other family members were in another vehicle nearby when the crash happened.
Traffic was blocked on the highway for more than an hour after the crash as a rescue helicopter attended.
The death came one day after Fatality Free Friday, launched by Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey over concerns this year’s road toll was higher than at the same time last year.