SHE WAS AN INNOCENT HUMAN..! – GRIEVING FAMILY JOINS HUNDREDS OF CAIRNS RESIDENTS AT EMOTIONAL VIGIL FOR SAVANNAH SPENCE PAIGE AFTER THE 25-YEAR-OLD WAS K!LLED IN A CRASH INVOLVING AN ALLEGEDLY STOLEN CAR.
Family joins hundreds at Cairns candlelight vigil for crash victim Savannah Spence Paige
Grieving family members joined hundreds of Cairns residents at a vigil for Savannah Spence Paige, paying tribute to the 25-year-old after her death in a crash involving an alleged stolen car.
Husband of Savannah Spence Paige, Lachie Paige, is comforted by Savannah’s family and friends at a candlelight vigil in her honour at Fogarty Park, Cairns. Mrs Spence Paige, 25, was killed when an allegedly stolen utility collided with her RAV4 on the Smithfield Bypass on Wednesday. Picture: Brendan Radke
Grieving family members have joined hundreds of Cairns residents at a vigil for Savannah Spence Paige, paying tribute to the 25-year-old northern beaches woman after her death in a crash involving an alleged stolen car.
A small group of family and friends comforted Ms Spence Paige’s husband Lachie at the vigil, held at Fogarty Park.
Mr Paige held onto the leash of a pet dog throughout the vigil, while friends and family stood by his side, their arms wrapped around him.
Candles burn in honour of Savannah Spence Paige at the vigil held in Fogarty Park. Picture: Brendan Radke
Family members also lit candles which they placed in front of a framed photo of Ms Spence Paige, which had the words “a smile that lit up every room” printed across it.
Ms Spence Paige died on Wednesday when an allegedly stolen Land Cruiser ute hit the RAV4 she was driving on the Smithfield bypass.
Several people were injured in the crash, which involved several cars.
Ms Spence Paige died at the scene.
Police allege the Land Cruiser was driven by Jake Edward Warn, who has since been charged with manslaughter in relation to the crash.
A woman lights a candle at the vigil. Picture: Brendan Radke
The crash and Ms Spence Paige’s death has sparked widespread outrage and grief across Cairns, prompting a Safer Streets rally to be organised for later this month.
Cairns resident Heidi Johnson said the community was “fed up”.
“All day long you hear the helicopters flying around and the sirens,” Ms Johnson said.
“I’ve got a child who’s Savannah’s age, we all have children her age, and it could have been any one of us.
“I babysat somebody’s children yesterday – four little boys – and had to drive somewhere, and the entire time I was freaking out thinking that somebody was going to hit us.
“It’s just not good enough and we’ve had enough.”
Heidi Jonsson and Joelene Davis attended the vigil, saying the community was “fed up”. Picture: Brendan Radke
Ms Johnson said she felt “terribly sorry” for Ms Spence Paige’s family.
“She was an innocent human,” she said.
“It’s just not fair and it shouldn’t have happened.”
Organiser Shinae West said Ms Spence Paige’s death struck a chord because her death was “preventable”.
“My brother was killed in a car accident so it sort of hit home for me this week and I unfortunately know what her family’s going through,” Ms West said.
Candles burn in honour of Ms Spence Paige. Picture: Brendan Radke
“At first it was just going to be me on this rug out here just acknowledging Savannah’s life and my brother Logan’s life, but the community gathered in memory of Savannah’s life too.
“It’s been really nice to have the community come together and acknowledge the tragedy as well.”
Holloways Beach women Maddie Tofilau, 26, and Georgia Tofilau, 23, said while they did not know Ms Spence Paige personally, they had felt compelled to show their support.
“It’s just a tragedy, and we came out here to support and mourn with our community,” Maddie Tofilau said.
“Under the circumstances it is nice to see people come together.”
