Mystery as 'beautiful' young Aussie found dead on side of the road
An investigation into the death of Courtney Paige Anderson is underway and police are urging any drivers who may have seen anything to come forward.
Mystery continues to shroud the death of a “beautiful” 28-year-old Australian woman who was found on the side of a busy highway following a “traffic incident”.
Courtney Paige Anderson and her de facto partner, 35, from Gladstone, were travelling on Bruce Highway to Rockhampton on Easter Monday, however she tragically “never made it” to the destination, Queensland Police said.
Detectives are now reportedly investigating if Courtney jumped from the passenger side of a gold Toyota Hilux — as some have claimed on social media — near the intersection at Sisalana Road.
While police have declined to comment directly on the speculation, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday the 28-year-old’s body was found 80 metres from the ute the couple had been driving.
“She sustained catastrophic injuries and she lost her life but I won’t comment at this point in time about how those injuries were sustained,” he said. “The male was taken to Rockhampton Hospital ... and my understanding is he was treated for shock.”
Detective Mawdsley has also told media that investigators have spoken to a number of people who witnessed the aftermath of the incident.
Police had previous interactions with couple
Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said numerous witnesses who stopped to perform first aid told police Courtney’s partner was “very distraught and highly emotional” at the scene. The 35-year-old, who has since been discharged, is co-operating with police and has provided his version of events.
“We do intend on speaking with him again,” Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said, adding that police knew of some “previously reported incidents” between the couple but “nothing recent”, the Courier Mail reports.
“I won’t elaborate as to the specifics of that, we want to speak with the family members and other loved ones of these two persons to ascertain if there are any…issues which need to be considered,” he continued.
Tributes flow for 'beautiful' woman
Courtney’s family is said to be “extremely distraught and devastated” over her sudden death.
Her dad, Don Anderson, posted a photo of his daughter to Facebook on Tuesday, triggering an outpouring of tributes to the “beautiful young lady” and condolences to her loved ones.
“The face of an angel,” one person commented on the image. “Such terrible and sad news,” another said.
“Thinking of you and all the family after such devastating news and such a sad loss your beautiful girl,” one friend wrote.
Police are urging anyone who may have seen or has dash cam footage of the Toyota Hilux driving in the area before the incident to contact them at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
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