Daily London
The family of a teenager who was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Brisbane last night has paid an emotional tribute to the 17-year-old.
Olivia was walking along Margate Parade at Margate at 11.30pm when she was allegedly struck by a white Nissan Navara ute and left with life-threatening injuries.
Emergency services were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
It will be alleged that after the crash, the 58-year-old driver failed to remain at the scene and render assistance.
A 58-year-old Scarborough man has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and left scene of incident without obtaining help.
He was refused police bail and is due to appear at Redcliffe Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Olivia was one month away from her 18th birthday.
Her family has released a statement following the much-loved daughter and sister’s death.
“Olivia was a beautiful and gentle soul, she cared deeply about everyone around her,” the family said.
“She had a way of ensuring everyone she crossed paths felt cared for and understood.
“She loved those close to her with her whole heart and would always be the person to pick up on the small things that make people the way they are, often the things that others would miss.
“She could always tell when someone was having a bad day and would stay with you as long as you needed until she was sure that you were OK.”
The family said Olivia “didn’t realise how loved she was by everyone around her”.
“She never fully realised how beautiful she truly was and never realised how much she touched the people around her,” the family said.
“When Olivia was little she always wanted to grow up, she wanted to play and hang out with the big kids.
“She used to become so excited by their hand me downs.
“She always wanted to be like her sisters but she never understood that it’s them who wanted to be like her.
“She loved listening to Lana Del Ray on her record player and loved to draw.
“Olivia’s favourite colour was pink and she loved her dog more than anything, before she even was sure she was getting a dog she had already saved up all her money and purchased dog toys for him.”
The family said Olivia had been through more challenges in the last two years than most people realise.
“The world had been heavy and unkind to such a tender-hearted soul however she always tried her best to get through it and her resilience became a quiet rhythm in her life, a way for her to remind herself to never give up,” the family said.
“Just as Olivia was getting better, getting her light back, she was taken from us far too soon.”
The investigation continues.
