The loved ones of a single mother raising seven children are mourning her tragic death following a car crash on Mother's Day. Rebecca Hayes, 41, lost her life in a three-vehicle collision while returning home with her 11-year-old daughter from a market event in Tambourine Mountain, located in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
The Incident
On Sunday around midday, Hayes was driving her Mitsubishi ASX along Maudsland Road when her vehicle was involved in a severe crash with a Mazda BT-50 utility and a Mazda 3. Emergency services arrived promptly, but Hayes succumbed to critical injuries at the scene. Her daughter was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in critical condition, which has since been upgraded to stable.
The 19-year-old male driver of the utility vehicle also sustained serious abdominal injuries and was hospitalised. The two occupants of the Mazda were treated as a precaution and released.
Community in Shock
The sudden loss of Hayes has deeply affected the local community. Kieara Anderson, a friend, described Hayes as "one of the most devoted mums you could ever meet." In a heartfelt tribute, Anderson said: "Bec was the definition of selfless, a fiercely loving single mother who dedicated every part of herself to her children. Her babies were her entire world and anyone who knew Bec knew how hard she fought every single day to provide a safe, loving and happy home for them. She gave absolutely everything she had to her family."
Fundraising for the Family
Anderson has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Hayes' family, whose lives have been "turned upside down in an instant." She wrote: "There are simply no words that could ever explain the heartbreak these children are now facing. To lose your mum is unimaginable. But to lose her on a day meant to celebrate her love makes this tragedy even more painful."
Investigation Ongoing
Queensland Police are continuing their investigation into the crash. Preliminary inquiries suggest the utility vehicle may have veered onto the wrong side of the road, according to Assistant Commissioner Brett Jackson. "It was a traumatic scene for motorists and nearby residents and emergency services," he said. "This lady was a mother, our thoughts are with her family." The teenage driver has been cooperating with authorities, and no charges have been filed at this stage.
