A family in Brisbane is grappling with an “unimaginable loss” after a devastating weekend accident resulted in the deaths of two family members and left three others injured.
The fatal collision occurred on Saturday in Yarrabilba, claiming the lives of 33-year-old Jessica Ortiz and her father-in-law, 65-year-old Jorge Ortiz.
Jessica’s husband, Damian, along with his mother Patricia and their two-year-old daughter Sylvie, sustained severe injuries and remain hospitalized.
The family was traveling in a white Volkswagen station wagon when it collided with a white Toyota HiLux on Waterford-Tamborine Road, just after 4:30 p.m., south of Brisbane.
The driver of the HiLux, 18-year-old Izayiah Aitken, also perished at the scene.
Reports indicate that the family was returning home from an outing when their vehicle was struck at high speed by the HiLux.
Horrific CCTV footage, seen by Daily Mail, showed the HiLux speeding southbound before veering into the path of the family’s wagon, with the head-on collision sparking an inferno.
A fundraiser has been set up by family friend, Russell Rackley, who described the tragedy as an ‘unimaginable loss.’
The Brisbane family were returning from a day out with Damian’s parents when they were hit
Jessica and Damian Ortiz welcomed their first child Sylvie in 2023 and married a year later
Jessica Ortiz and her father-in-law Jorge Ortiz died in the horror crash
‘We are coming together as friends and family to lift up the Ortiz family during an unimaginable loss,’ Mr Rackley said.
‘A tragic car accident took the lives of Jorge and Jess, leaving hearts broken and lives forever changed. As the family begins to face the days ahead, the road to healing will be long and incredibly difficult.
‘We ask for your love, prayers, and support as we stand beside them and help carry them through this heart breaking time.’
It’s understood Jessica was a nurse at Brisbane Private Hospital where she had worked for around seven years.
Her in-laws, Patricia and Jorge Ortiz, were also involved in Queensland Health with Mr Rackley describing them as having ‘devoted their lives to serving the healthcare community.’
65-year-old Patricia, who is in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital, is believed to be a Theatre Inventory Coordinator.
Ms Ortiz, who is originally from Central America, started working at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside Hospital when it first opened in 2001.
Her son Damian, 36, is now in a stable condition and is also receiving treatment at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Jorge reportedly pleaded with bystanders to save little Sylvie before succumbing to his injuries
It comes as Yarrabilba locals, who came to the aid of the Ortiz family in the minutes after the crash, revealed Jorge used his last breath to tell them to save his injured granddaughter.
Muhammad Gohar, his wife Rabia Munir and their sons, Muhammad Aihab and Muhammad Salal, were at home when they heard the explosion.
‘We pulled the baby out, she was covered in blood,’ Aihab told the Courier Mail, describing how he broke the window with a hammer.
‘It happened so fast – I kept asking other people what happened to the guy in the other car. By the time we were helping the other people, that car went up in flames.’
Ms Munir was able to grab two small fire extinguishers but they weren’t enough to douse the flames.
More to come.
