KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
News

Latest Fraser Island crash proves need for new law, says Jade Fox mum

By: Alan Smith ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 03 March 2015

Updated: 10:58, 03 March 2015

The parents of Jade Fox have expressed their dismay at yet another tourist traffic accident on Australia’s Fraser Island.

Jade, from School Lane, Maidstone, was just 22 when she was killed on the world heritage site on October 31 last year.

The 4X4 in which she had been a passenger over-turned on the island, which is made up entirely of sand and is notoriously difficult to drive on.

The crash scene last October: picture courtesy of RACQ CareFlight Rescue

On Thursday last week, three more tourists - including another British woman - had to be air-lifted to hospital after an almost identical accident.

The three were in a group of eight tourists injured in the accident when their vehicle rolled over twice before righting itself.

mpu1

One is still in a serious condition after suffering severe facial injuries.

The week before, two other people were air-lifted to hospital after they lost control of their hired vehicle and ploughed into a tree.

Jade’s mother Melanie Fox said: “We discovered there had been two similar accidents in 2009, when three people had died.

“The Australian coroner at the time made a number of recommendations, including that only experienced drivers aged over 25 be allowed to drive on the island, but his recommendation was never implemented.”

Jade Fox died in a car crash in Australia

Mrs Fox said: “These latest accidents are very distressing. It shows there is a need to get tough safety measures put into place to stop young inexperienced holiday-makers from driving in these tour vehicles with up to seven passengers to be responsible for.”

Mr and Mrs Fox and Jade’s best friend Grace Dilley have started a Facebook campaign to petition the Austrailian Government for a change in the law.

Under Australian law, the government must debate an issue if it receives a 100,000-strong petition. So far, 5,881 have signed in support of Jade’s Law.

mpu2

Mrs Fox said: “We are appealing via Facebook for people to sign the petition. It is very important to prevent another family suffering a tragedy like ours.”

Miss Dilley said: “I lost my best friend. I urge everyone to sign this petition. It’s so important to make sure this doesn’t happen to someone else.”

You can sign the petition directly via: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/jades-law

Read more

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024