Three teenagers die as utility hits tree at Woodwark near Airlie Beach

Schoolies fatal

Jake Todd (left), Mitchell Black and Jareth Parris. Pic: Facebook
Source: Supplied


Schoolies fatal

The twisted wreckage of the utility in which the boys had been travelling. Pic: Channel 9
Source: Supplied




A NORTH Queensland community has been left devastated after three teenagers on their way to Schoolies celebrations were killed in a horrific car crash.


Mitchell Black, Jake Todd and Jareth Parris were travelling to celebrations at Airlie Beach but were killed when their utility hit a tree off Paluma Rd, Woodwark, about 8km west of Airlie Beach, about 11.15am on Saturday.

Facebook tribute page to the late teens

Jake and Jareth, both 17, finished school and attended their graduation at Proserpine State High School on Friday night while 18-year-old Mitchell completed Year 10 at the same school a few years ago.

Friends took to Facebook yesterday to write heartfelt tributes to the young men.

“RIP boys, you will be missed by everyone,” Renee Faust said.

Riley Dobe wrote: “Lives taken too early and it’s just not right.”

Proserpine State High School principal Chris Roff said the community was “shocked and saddened” by the “tragic deaths” of three former students.

“All three were well-liked and popular classmates. Their passing is incomprehensible and overwhelming for our close-knit school community,” Mr Roff said in a statement.

“At this terrible time, we will provide counselling for anyone who requires it, for as long as they need support.

“We will miss all of them deeply and extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to family and friends.”

 

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker said the crash was “a bit of a wake-up call to kids across the state to be safe and exercise caution”.

Debra Carrington, manager for community development and projects for Whitsunday Regional Council, is overseeing the Schoolies program at Airlie Beach. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those families that did lose loved ones yesterday,” she said.

As well as the three teens, Queensland’s roads claimed two more victims at the weekend.

A motorcyclist in his 50s died instantly after a crash at Gumdale on Brisbane’s bayside about 1.30pm on Saturday on New Cleveland Rd.

A 26-year-old woman was killed on Saturday night when the car she was driving crashed through two fences and went into a carport.

The car came to rest in the front garden of a house in River Hills Rd, Eagleby.

Two passengers, aged 16 and 17, were taken to hospital with injuries.

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