The driver killed in a crash in WA’s Wheatbelt at the weekend has been identified as a Welsh woman who had moved to Australia on a working holiday visa with her boyfriend.
Tributes have flowed for Annie Evans-Lewis, 21, who died after her Suzuki Grand Vitara left the road and hit a tree in East Pingelly on Saturday afternoon.
Evans-Lewis was flown to Royal Perth Hospital but later died from her injuries.
Her boyfriend, Cai James, told the BBC he had dropped Evans-Lewis to collect her car from a farm, before coming across the crash scene on his way back from a stop at a workshop.
A fundraiser set up by Evans-Lewis’ cousin has so far raised more than £37,000 ($70,000) to help the family bring her body back to Wales for her funeral.
“The pain being felt by all who knew her and loved her dearly is indescribable,” Emily Davies wrote in the fundraiser.
“Annie was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, girlfriend, and a friend to many.
“She will always be remembered as the most energetic, chaotic, hilarious, loving, kind and down to earth person.”
James told the BBC he was by Evans-Lewis’ side during her final moments at Royal Perth Hospital.
“She was everything and with her gone, I don’t know what to do with myself,” he said.
Evans-Lewis was one of four people to die on WA roads at the weekend, which also fell in National Road Safety Week.
Nine people have died in eight crashes in the past week, with most of the incidents involving single vehicles and young people.
On Monday, Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said the number of fatalities was “both worrying and heartbreaking”.
“I can’t imagine what those families are going through, and my thoughts go to them,” she said.
WA’s road toll to date this year is 86 – a 26 per cent increase on the previous five-year average.
