An international student who was killed when she was struck by a car over the weekend has been remembered as someone who was “full of life, kindness, and dreams for the future”.
Komalpreet Kaur, 19, was trapped under a blue Hyundai i30 hatchback in the carpark of Bentley Plaza on Albany Highway in Bentley, Perth, around 11:30pm on Saturday. The pedestrian was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with critical injuries but could not be saved.
Friends revealed that Kaur was studying community services at Stanley College and working part-time in Perth after moving from India in July 2025. She had settled in well and was planning to build a life in Australia.
“She was charming, always smiling. She filled our lives with happiness,” friend Sakshi Rupal told 7NEWS.com.au.
Rupal described the talented teenager as like a little sister, with the pair previously living together, catching up almost every day, and Kaur joining in family birthday celebrations. She said Kaur often played the role of photographer for their regular outings, loved the city’s nightlife, and was into fashion and makeup.
“I didn’t believe it. I thought it must be wrong,” Rupal said of the tragedy. “It’s really hard. Last night I was cooking dinner, and it was something that she liked. It’s so terrible.”
Family friend Harpinder Singh Kaler launched an online fundraiser to support Kaur’s family in paying for funeral expenses and repatriating her body home. “Komalpreet was full of life, kindness, and dreams for the future,” he said. “Her sudden passing has left her family and friends devastated and struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy. This is an overwhelming burden for the family, both emotionally and financially.”
The $50,000 goal has been surpassed, and Kaler said “we have now paused accepting further donations”. Rupal said Kaur’s devastated family is desperate to get her home.
Witnesses recounted how a crowd worked together to try and lift the car off the critically injured teen. “I just started screaming for ‘any man, any man, any male’ and we started to lift the car,” one person said. “I wanted to flip that car. We kind of got it up once, got it up a second time, and someone’s dragged her out.”
A 19-year-old male driver is assisting police with their investigation, and no charges have been laid. Major Crash investigators have appealed for witnesses and people with information or footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
