Ipswich family in tragic accident

Police rookie tells of the impact of attending car crash which killed young mother

David Murray  Courier-Mail  February 02, 2013

Picture: Glenn Barnes Source: The Courier-Mail

A FIRST-YEAR police constable has spoken of the impact of attending a horrific highway crash that killed a young mother and her unborn child last month.

The undocumented toll of the state's road accidents - which have claimed almost a life a day this year - is the effect on the police, ambulance and fire service workers who respond.

For the single Bruce Highway crash last month, 30 emergency services workers were involved in efforts to save lives, and they will be haunted in the aftermath.
"It has changed me," Constable Renee Gough, 27, told The Courier-Mail.

Tammy and Nathan Boorer.

"People drive past crashes, unaware of the impact they can have on people. But for us, you live in it from start to finish. It has to change you."Tammy and Nathan Boorer and their two young children were travelling to Hervey Bay when a car going the wrong way crashed into them on the Bruce Highway at the Sunshine Coast on January 23.
Constable Gough had been called out to reports of a car travelling down the wrong side of the Bruce Highway when she was advised of the crash.

Family car: Nathan and Tammy Boorer's vehicle.

"It was overwhelming. It is my first crash of its kind," she said. "I got out of the vehicle and all you see is figures, darkness, things smashed.
"One person was on the ground, one person deceased - and then you find out a whole family is injured in one car.
"It makes it more difficult with children. One person's stupid decision can wipe out a whole family."

Disaster: The wreck of the Boorer family's car.

Acting Sergeant Duncan Hale, the officer in charge of the Sunshine Coast District's Forensic Crash Unit, attended the accident on the night and later returned to continue investigations.
"You become familiar with the scene of a crash - driver negligence, excessive speed - totally avoidable things," he said.
"I look at a crash scene sometimes with total wonder.
"I look at the surroundings and what is a safe, straight stretch of road and I think, 'How is it possible that this happened?'
"What often has happened is driver inattention or blatant disregard for basic road rules, but you can't police stupidity."
From the police service, 13 officers took initial emergency calls, responded to the crash, controlled traffic afterwards, launched investigations and delivered messages to next of kin.
Nine ambulance personnel treated the injured. From the fire service, eight personnel worked to help save the crash victims.
Mrs Boorer and her unborn baby died, and her husband remains in a critical but stable condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

ends 

A tragic but excellent report in the Courier Mail David Murray. 
Reporting the emotional rollercoaster experienced by Police and Forensic Unit officers who attend to the dreadful accidents on our roads is important. 
The report details a fraction of the effort that is involved with such a terrible incident, the Police, Emergency, Ambulance workers.


Background
Tammy and her husband Nathan, both 28, were severely injured when their car collided head-on with another car driving the wrong way, and were then rear-ended by a truck, on the Bruce Highway on the Sunshine Coast last Wednesday. 
Tammy and her 30 week old unborn baby passed away on Friday night.
Donations to assist Nathan and his two children, can be made via Westpac a/c 196363, BSB 034189, with "Tammy'' in subject line. 
Support is being coordinated by the Ipswich Central Presbyterian Church.

http://www.centralchurch.net.au/support-for-boorer-family

Life support ended after horrific car accident

Sunday Mail Report by Josh Robertson

... Nathan remained in a stable but critical condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital yesterday. Their children, aged 9 and 3, survived the crash with minor injuries and are  in the care of their grandparents.
Central Ipswich Church pastor Scott Muir said the couple were "much-loved'' members of their church community, which was now rallying around Nathan and his family after Tammy's passing at 11.30pm on Friday.
"There's a lot of sadness, grief, over their loss and especially for the sake of their children. Tammy would be remembered for her beautiful nature''.
His church has set up a bank account for donations to the family, and is helping them with "some of their immediate needs''.
Donations to the Boorer family can be made via Westpac A/c 196363, BSB 034189, with "Tammy'' in the subject line.
And another horrific Warrego incident with several vehicles and B Doubles.