Teen, 18, killed in ‘horrific’ car crash
A teenage girl has died after the car she was in veered off the road, crashing into trees in Queensland’s Darling Downs region.
Police allege a 19-year-old man was the behind the wheel of a stolen silver Holden Commodore heading eastbound on Hursley Rd in Toowoomba just after midnight on Friday.
The 18-year-old woman – who was seated in the passenger seat – died upon impact.
She has since been identified as Heidi Ridley.
Heartbroken tributes have flooded in on social media for the teenager after her sudden death, with many of her immediate family forced to grieve from another state.
Her sister Tamika Riding, who lives in Tasmania with their mother, promised to fight for justice in the wake of her death.
“I will fight until I can’t anymore I will make sure every damn person knows your name I promise sissy, I will get the justice you deserve,” she said.
“This morning I woke up and told my sister I love her,” her aunt wrote to Facebook on Friday morning.
“No parent should ever have to outlive their children.”
“To my niece Heidi Riding, I have absolutely no words rest easy baby girl.”
“Another one gone to soon,” a friend who has known her since they were 12-years-old said.
“Your in a better place now heidz. Your now with beautiful jemma! Now it’s time to spread your beautiful wings.”
“Gone, but never forgotten! FOREVER18.”
Detective Inspector Damien Smith described the crash scene as “quite horrific” with the vehicle suffering extensive damage.
“We are asking young people who are taking part in this risk taking behaviour to take a second to reconsider their actions because they can often unfortunately have tragic consequences,” he said.
“It’s not worth the enjoyment they might get out of this (alleged) thrill-seeking behaviour.”
Ms Riding was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt when the car slammed into a tree at about 160km/h, Nine News reports.
The driver was transported to Toowoomba Hospital with minor injuries.
A local police patrol spotted the car earlier in the night but did not make an attempt to pull the driver over, a Queensland Police spokesman said.
However, the police officers actions in the lead up to the crash will come under review by the Ethical Standards command.
The Forensic Crash Unit have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Originally published as ‘Rest easy baby girl’: Family’s grief as teen passenger Heidi Riding killed in ‘horrific’ crash in Toowoomba
Source: News
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