A grieving Mandurah mother says her family is “broken” after her daughter and “the rock of the family” was allegedly killed by a driver under the influence of alcohol. Surrounded by picture frames featuring photos of her late daughter Kelly’s smiling face, Sue T’Hart and her family gathered to share their memories. Her home was the last place the family saw Kelly before her death on May 19.
After celebrating her 32nd birthday the day before, Kelly had dropped in on the Sunday afternoon to her mum’s home in Furnissdale to pick up the remainder of her birthday cake. “She was really such a loving girl, always never left without wrapping her arms around you and saying she loved you,” Ms T’Hart said. “And she was here and the last words she said to us was ‘I love you’ to me and Jason, her stepdad.
“And then 40 minutes later, she was gone.” Ms T’Hart believes Kelly returned to her house and set out on her usual evening walk around the semi-rural suburb on the outskirts of Mandurah. About 6pm, she was walking along Riverside Drive when, with less than 900m to go before she got home, she was hit by a black Mazda 6 sedan, allegedly driven by a 25-year-old woman.
Kelly suffered critical injuries and died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services and nearby residents who tried to save her. The alleged driver has been charged with manslaughter, failing to stop and ensure assistance, failing to report the incident to police and driving under th.