A 17-year-old man has been mourned after he was killed in a horror three-car smash, sending a tight-knit community reeling from the tragedy.
Equestrian William Turner died when his 4WD veered into oncoming traffic on the Cunningham Highway in Gladfield, in southeast Queensland, on Sunday.
Five others were hurt in the accident and were sent to the hospital but suffered no life-threatening injuries.
Friends of the family Leeanne Eastwell set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs and remembered William as a close mate to her youngest son, Lane.
Equestrian William Turner (pictured) died when his 4WD ute collided head on with two vehicles on the Cunningham Highway in Gladfield, in southeast Queensland on Sunday
‘I would take them into football at Toowoomba a few times a week, and he ended up being the fifth boy I never had,’ Ms Eastwell told The Chronicle.
‘He was such a good kid, he [was] definitely gone places, he was a larrikin that everyone loved, the life of the party.’
She said William had been always there for her son Lane.
Lane even got a tattooed tribute to the teen on his forearm, which read, ‘William Peter Turner. 16-04-05 20-11-22, ’90 or not’.
The ’90 or nothin’ is a common saying in the campdrafting sport William competed in, which means you have to put it all on the line whether it works out or not.
William had been traveling west at the time when he allegedly veered onto the other side of the road in front of two oncoming cars, the Courier Mail said.
A farm worker, who helped emergency services in the aftermath (pictured), said the scene ‘was a mess’
The avid horseman, who was the sole occupant in his vehicle, suffered critical injuries in the crash near Gladfield Back Road and died at the scene.
A farm worker, who helped emergency services in the aftermath, told the Chronicle the scene ‘was a mess’.
‘One car was upside down in the middle of the road, another was on its side on the side of the road and there was a ute in the middle,’ he said.
The highway was closed in both directions for several hours.
William, who hailed from Texas, southwest of Warwick, was well known in campdraft circles after competing in the sport across Queensland.
Campdrafting is an equestrian event, where a rider isolates a bullock from a group and drives it around a set course.
He was traveling west at the time when he allegedly veered onto the other side of the road in front of two oncoming cars (pictured, vision of the aftermath)
He was traveling west on the highway at the time when he allegedly veered onto the other side of the road in front of two oncoming cars, the Courier Mail said.
The avid horseman suffered critical injuries in the crash and died at the scene.
The freeway was closed in both directions for several hours.
The tragedy comes just a few days after William graduated from Scots PGC College in Warwick.
Principal Kyle Thompson told the Courier Mail the boy was a gifted student.
‘Will was a much-loved member of our college community,’ Mr Thompson said.
‘He was an avid campdrafter and was looking forward to embarking on the next step of his journey after school as an apprentice boilermaker.’
The freeway (pictured) was closed in both directions for several hours after the horror smash
Meanwhile, messages of support continued to pour out for the young man.
‘I can’t believe this happened to Will, I hope everyone’s doing okay,’ Macgregor Long said in a tribute.
‘I am sending my love and heartfelt condolences to Will’s family,’ Liz Alldridge said
The GoFundMe platform raised $5,650, by Thursday, more than halfway to its $10,000 goal.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the accident to come forward.
Investigations are continuing.
William, who hailed from Texas, south west of Warwick, was well known in campdraft circles after competing in the sport across Queensland (pictured, campdrafting in action)
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