THE female driver of a 4WD that rolled on Fraser Island, killing a passenger, had been trying to overtake another car, police believe.

Jade Fox, a 22-year-old female British backpacker, was killed when the Land cruiser flipped on a straight section of a gravel road that had a 50km/hr speed limit. It’s believed she was not wearing a seatbelt and hit her head when the accident happened just kilometres from the barge at Hook Point on Friday afternoon.

The vehicle was part of a convoy of three 4WDs on a tag-along tour operated by the Rainbow Beach Adventure Company. Tributes flowed for Ms Fox yesterday, as people remembered her “light” and “humour”.

Bryony MacLeod tweeted:

RIP Jade, you’ll be missed by all who had the pleasure to know you and experience the light, humour and love you (brought) to one’s life.

Steven Maverick Sims added:

RIP Jade Fox. Happiest go lucky smiling girl I knew from my 3 months back in Brados. Unbelievable still now that your gone!

Fellow travellers said the female backpacker driving the vehicle was “young and inexperienced” with four-wheel-driving.

 

Seven of the eight people in the car received minor injuries, including two of Ms Fox’s close friends who had been travelling together on a holiday of a lifetime in Australia.

One of them, with her arm in a sling, was being comforted yesterday by friends at Dingo’s Hostel at Rainbow Beach as she boarded a bus to Brisbane.

Fraser Island resident and first aid respondent David Anderson said he attempted to resuscitate Ms Fox but it was apparent she had died.

Two companions of the girl who died were visibly upset,

said Mr Anderson.

They had six months to go on their Australian trip and they were saying they wanted to go home. They were just too upset to go on anymore.

The 4WD fatality is believed to be the first involving a backpacker on Fraser Island since rules were introduced in 2010 making it mandatory for backpackers to travel with tag-along tours.

Convoys of about four cars driven by backpackers must follow a lead car operated by an experienced tour guide.

Author : Dirk