A three-year-old girl has tragically lost her fight for life, six days after a devastating multi-vehicle collision involving a dump truck on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
A Scene of Devastation on Banya Avenue
Emergency services were called to Banya Avenue in Banya just before 11.40am last Thursday after a Mitsubishi Fuso truck collided with a silver Nissan Qashqai. The truck continued along the road, crashing into the rear of a stationary blue Haval station wagon which was waiting at traffic lights at the intersection with Great Keppel Way.
The force of the impact caused a chain reaction, with two vehicles in front of the station wagon also being struck. In total, seven people were injured in the horrific incident.
A Family's Heartbreak
In the back seat of the Haval station wagon were two sisters: three-year-old Ineza King and her one-year-old sibling, Itahe. Both children suffered critical injuries. Their mother was also hurt but has since been discharged from hospital.
Ineza was airlifted to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where she remained until she passed away on Wednesday. Her younger sister is still receiving treatment at the same hospital and remains in a critical condition.
The family has released a moving tribute to their daughter, describing her as "full of life and energy." The statement highlighted that her name means 'kindness' and recalled her love for family, outdoor adventures, and bedtime stories. It also shared her favourite saying: "sharing is caring."
Community Support and Ongoing Investigation
Friends of the family have established an online fundraiser to help with the mounting costs. The page states the funds will assist with hospital and rehabilitation expenses, travel and accommodation, time off work, and any future specialised therapy or equipment the children may need.
An off-duty doctor, Marcio Brussius Coelho, was among the first on the scene and provided vital first aid to Ineza until the emergency helicopter arrived. Mr Coelho, a father himself, described the situation as "emotional" but said his medical training took over.
The Forensic Crash Unit is continuing its investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash. Police are urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or other video from the area around the time of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
