Queensland assistant health minister’s daughter dies in car crash #qldpol
The teenage stepdaughter of assistant health minister Chris Davis has been killed in a car crash.
Premier Campbell Newman told parliament on Tuesday morning of the “terrible tragedy”.
Jessica had been returning to the University of New England in Armidale in the NSW Northern Tablelands.
The local ABC reported a 18-year-old woman was killed on Sunday afternoon when her car hit a tree on the New England Highway, near Glen Innes, between Dundee and Deepwater. Her Volkswagen Beetle left the road and crashed into a tree around 5:30 p.m. She died at the scene.
Mr Newman was visibly moved as he spoke of the “most tragic and awful event”.
“Our hearts go out to them, our prayers are there for them and we are all there in solidarity in a very difficult time for their family,” he said.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk extended her sympathies.
“We heard about the tragedy last night and it has deeply shocked all of us on the opposition side as it has through the whole of parliament,” she said.
Jessica Lindley-Jones, 18, was the daughter of Brisbane paediatric neurologist Kate Sinclair and her ex-husband Mike Lindley-Jones, an intensive care specialist.
The former Brisbane Girls’ Grammar student was in her second year of a medical degree at the University of New England in Armidale and had dreams of becoming a paediatrician.
“She had this extraordinary radiance about her, a spirit of absolute kindness and generosity,’’ Dr Sinclair said today. “She was such fun.’’
Dr Sinclair said Jessica, who was born in the outback Queensland town of Thuringowa, would have turned 19 on April 23. She was much loved by her brother George, who is also a medical student, and Dr Davis, the state LNP member for Stafford.
Australian Medical Association federal president Steve Hambleton publicly expressed his condolences to the family today.
“Our heart goes out to Christopher Davis, who was a previous president of the AMA Queensland,’’ Dr Hambleton said.
“We wish the family the best and hope they can get through this tragedy. The AMA is here to support you as a family member, Dr Davis, and we hope to support your wife, Dr Kate Sinclair, and your family.’’