Mum warns of 'dangerous mix' on Aussie roads after teen killed on way home from work
Cassie Rawling’s life was cut tragically short on Saturday when her car collided with a tree on a rural road about two hours north of Melbourne.
The sudden death of an “amazing” young woman has left a small Aussie community shattered. Cassie Rawling’s life was cut tragically short on Saturday when her car collided with a tree on a rural road just outside of Euroa, about two hours north of Melbourne, at about 11.25am.
The 18-year-old, who died at the scene, was on her way home from work at the time, heartbroken family friends wrote on a GoFundMe created to support her grieving parents and brother.
“Loved so deeply from her family and friends. Cassie would light up any room she entered and the loss of her is unimaginable pain for everyone who knew her,” the fundraiser states, adding the teen was “a very much loved member and player of Longwood Football/Netball Club”.
She coached the Under 11’s and “was so looking forward to coaching again next year”. In a statement on Facebook, the club’s members said they were in “disbelief and heartbroken” following the loss of one of their own.
“Cassie was always smiling, bubbly, cheeky and an absolute pleasure to be around at the club. Our club is incredibly tight knit and this really hits so many so hard.”
Mum's tribute to 'baby girl' after tragic car crash
With a “heavy heart”, Cassie’s mum Julianne Rawlings has also posted a series of emotional tributes to her daughter online.
“We as a family are heartbroken,” she said. “I’m missing my baby girl dearly and living a parent’s nightmare. Take your angel wings and fly high beautiful. I was so proud to be your mum. Love you yesterday today and forever.”
Later the same day, Ms Rawlings said the teen’s death “doesn’t feel real”.
The exact circumstances surrounding the single vehicle crash that claimed Cassie’s life have yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing, Victoria Police said. So far this year, 238 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads, according to the Transport Accident Commission. In 2023, 244 people died.
National road toll continues to soar: 'Horrific'
The national road toll is continuing to climb despite persistent warnings, lower speed limits and the installation of new cameras, with states and territories all failing to meet safety targets.
Diane McMurtrie, who established Hannah’s Blue Butterflies Road Safety Awareness after her daughter was tragically killed in a car crash, told Yahoo News she is “devastated by the increasing number of horrific car crashes on our roads”.
“As we know personally, these tragedies do not affect one person. They have a ripple effect that is far reaching and life long,” she said.
“Sadly, what is driving the road toll, is our attitudes. It will never happen to me. Impatience, ego and arrogance is a dangerous mix. Until we address our own driving attitudes, there will more innocent lives lost or injured on our roads”.
All governments aimed to halve road deaths by 2030 when they signed the National Road Safety Standards Agreement in 2021. Three years later, the strategy is going backwards, with an increased road toll of 17.4 per cent.
In the year to September 2024, 1288 people died on Australian roads, and no state or territory is on track to meet targets.
Data from the Australian Automobile Association, tracks deaths in each state and found 12-monthly increases in road deaths in NSW (up 6.5 per cent), Victoria (8.5 per cent), Western Australia (7.1 per cent) and Tasmania (5.9 per cent).
The Northern Territory had a 130.8 per cent surge in crash fatalities during the period. Road deaths declined in South Australia (-9.8 per cent), Queensland (minus 4.2 per cent) and the ACT (minus 22.2 per cent), but those jurisdictions remain significantly off track due to previous increases.
with AAP
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