Man behind wheel in horror crash that killed little girl charged with drug-driving
A truck driver who crashed into four cars, resulting in the death of a little girl, has been charged with drug-driving.
One of the cars, with a mother and two young girls inside, was pinned to a construction site after being rear-ended.
The girls – Ineza King, 3, and one-year-old Itahe King– were travelling with their mother Denyse when a truck crashed into their vehicle about 11.45am on January 8 on Banya Avenue in Banya, south-west of Caloundra.
The three-year-old suffered critical head and chest injuries and was flown by helicopter to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where she later died.
“True to her name, which means kindness, Ineza was full of life and energy,” the family said in a statement following her death.
“She loved her family and friends, outdoor adventures, bedtime stories, and having her beautiful hair styled by her mummy. Ineza’s favourite saying, ‘sharing is caring’, reflects her beautiful spirit.”
Itahe was taken in a critical condition to Sunshine Coast University Hospital before also being flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The girls were unconscious when they were removed from the car, Queensland Ambulance Services spokesman Nick Haug said.
Denyse, who is in her 30s, was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition with head and chest injuries and discharged the next day.
The 56-year-old man who was driving the van has now been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while relevant drug is present.
He is due to appear before Caloundra Magistrates Court on April 23.
CCTV showed the moment the truck, which was travelling at speed, crashed into the first of four cars before continuing down the road.
It then crashed into three more vehicles stopped at an intersection, the young family’s car among them.
Paramedics assessed seven people in total, including the truck driver, with the remaining four taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
A man in another car hit by the truck told Nine News he and some tradespeople from the construction site pulled the two girls from the car.
“The people who witnessed that accident immediately jumped in to assist, and assist all the people involved in it. Nobody shied away from getting in, helping, providing assistance,” Robertson said.
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