An aged care worker and the man who fatally crashed into her on her way home from work has been identified.
Christella “Stella” Tan was attempting to return home from the night shift when the driver’s side door of her car was allegedly hit by 26-year-old Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett – who was driving on the wrong side of the road – in a stolen Mercedes at Burnside, Sunshine Coast on Friday morning.
The 52-year-old was trapped in her car for a while before paramedics could get to her but she succumbed to her critical injuries and died at the scene.
“Stella was my soulmate and true love of my life,” Ms Tan’s widower, Bernard Wee, told 7News.
“I miss her and love her so much.”
Mr Sefton-Bennett was apprehended and arrested shortly after the crash as police allege he attempted to flee the scene before members of the community worked to contain him.
He was later charged with offences including dangerous driving occasioning death, callous disregard for a victim, armed robbery, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded weapon and ammunition. It is alleged he was under the influence of substances at the time of the crash.
On Friday, Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Officer in Charge, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield, said the Mercedes was allegedly stolen at gunpoint from a Landsborough home about five hours before he collided with Ms Tan. He said it was also seen driving erratically through Burnside prior to the crash.
Mr Sefton-Bennett’s case was mentioned briefly in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Saturday but the case was adjourned to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 19.
Mr Sefton-Bennett was remanded in custody until his appearance in court tomorrow.
Detectives have appealed for anyone with any information or dashcam footage to come forward.
