Edmonton woman, 50, sadly missed
A ROUTINE drive to work turned tragic for Phyllis Crooks when she became an "innocent victim" of a fatal head-on crash in Cairns.
Ms Crooks, who lived at Edmonton, died in Cairns Base Hospital on Sunday morning, a day after she received serious injuries in a two-car crash on the Bruce Highway at White Rock.
The 50-year-old was injured when a man driving an allegedly stolen car sped the wrong way into oncoming traffic before crashing head-on with Ms Crooks near the Anderson Rd traffic lights about 5.20am.
It is alleged the man was driving away from a police pursuit and had crossed a median strip.
Police involved in the pursuit are the centre of an Ethical Standards Command Unit investigation.
The command unit and Cairns police would not comment on the incident yesterday.
Ms Crooks is the youngest of nine children and was originally from Newcastle.
Vanessa Lee, who previously worked with Ms Crooks at a telecommunications company in Newcastle, described her as a "very special person".
"You will not be forgotten by all your friends in Newcastle. You did not deserve this, nor does your family. You will be sadly missed," Ms Lee said of Ms Crooks yesterday.
A 21-year-old man accused of fleeing from police and causing the fatal crash remained in hospital last night.
He has been charged with manslaughter, dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlicensed driving. He remains in a stable condition at Cairns Base Hospital.
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