The Gold Coast and Scenic Rim communities are mourning as 17-year-old boys, traveling in opposite directions, died in the Birnam collision
Memorial services were held for two teenagers who died in a two-vehicle accident on a Queensland country road.
Paramedics responded to the head-on collision on Beaudesert Beenleigh Road in Birnam, south of Brisbane, around 6.15pm on Sunday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Two teenagers died in a horrific head-on crash in Beaudesert.
Watch the latest news and stream for free 7plus >>
Jimmy Bowie and Ben Grahame, both 17, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.
Both boys were behind the wheel of their respective cars, which were traveling in opposite directions leading up to the accident.
Bowie, a Palen Creek senior, is remembered as a “beautiful boy.”
“You will be missed forever beautiful boy,” a friend wrote on his social media.
They said he was “well loved” and that his death caused sorrow to all.
Another friend wrote that Bowie would be “in our hearts forever”.
A group of friends of the teen also shared a message saying he was “such a beautiful soul gone way too soon”.
“Your friendships and the love we all have for you will live on forever.
“I still can’t believe it’s real. I know we will all miss you every day.
“You have impacted my life so profoundly and I will forever be grateful to you.”
A MyCause was created for Bowie’s family.
“[Jimmy]has been a best friend, a close friend, a brother and a son to so many,” the fundraiser said.
“We will never forget the impact he had on all of us and the encouragement he brought to all his friends and family to do our best in life and we will keep his memory and love for him in our hearts and keep in our words.”
“His infectious smile, laughter and upbeat energy will never leave us.”
Ben Grahame, from Ormeau, has also been identified as a victim of the crash.
7NEWS understands he was traveling from one parent’s home to the other’s home at the time of the accident.
“Ben was a much loved and valued member of the family who was charismatic, fun, life at the party and a big sissy on the inside,” a family friend wrote in one GoFundMe Campaign for teenager’s family.
“Ben is the baby of the family and Colleen’s only son.”
Grahame had just started an apprenticeship and is remembered as a kind and bright young man.
Calls for security
“(It is) an absolute tragedy,” Deputy Commissioner Charysse Pond said when asked about the incident at the start of Operation Auster.
“The deaths of two young people will have a tremendous impact on the entire community.”
Operation Auster is a week-long road safety campaign by Queensland Police.
The aim is to reduce traffic accidents in the southern region of Queensland.
Police are still investigating the circumstances of the accident in Birnam.
“I beseech our community to live up to the conditions, drive safely and drive in a way that others survive,” Pond said.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it is asked to contact the police.
