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Beauty pageant queen dies after horrific car crash

<p>American beauty pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen has died at the age of 18 after a horrific head-on car crash. </p> <p>According to multiple US outlets, Fredericksen, who was named Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA, tragically died on February 17 following a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer while driving on a Florida highway.</p> <p>The sudden death of the Miss Teen USA title holder was confirmed in a heartbreaking post on The Miss Florida USA Instagram account, saying "our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul" and noting she "was a true light in this world".</p> <p>The Miss Florida USA organisation wrote in their Instagram post underneath a black and white shot of the pageant queen: "It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our beloved delegates, Kadance Fredericksen, Miss Okaloosa County."</p> <p>"Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul – one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters."</p> <p>They added in part of the post, "May we honour her memory by carrying forward the light she so effortlessly shared with the world and our Florida pageant community. Forever our Queen 🙏🕊️."</p> <p>Her pageant coach Michelle Watts told <em>WKRG</em> following her death, "Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings."</p> <p>"She is going to have such a legacy behind her."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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Incredible footage emerges of plane crashing and flipping upside down

<p>Terrified passengers have recalled the moment they were left "hanging upside down like bats" after a plane crashed and flipped during an icy landing. </p> <p>The Delta Airlines plane was landing at Toronto Pearson Airport during snowy conditions, when the plane touched down and immediately caught fire. </p> <p>Skidding along the runway, the plane then flipped upside down with 80 people onboard before coming to a halt. </p> <p>Video obtained by <em>CNN</em> shows the plane landing hard on the runway, with the plane's rear landing gear buckling upon impact with the snow and erupting into a fireball. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGN-pIIOR-G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGN-pIIOR-G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by CNN (@cnn)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>According to passengers John Nelson and Peter Koukov, the rollover left travellers hanging aloft until they could be freed. </p> <p>"We were upside down hanging like bats," Koukov said. </p> <p>The man was able to unbuckle himself and stand upright on the ceiling of the plane, but some people needed help getting down from their seats.</p> <p>Officials said on Monday 21 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including a child in good condition.</p> <p>All but two of them had been released from hospital on Tuesday morning.</p> <p>US man Pete Carlson was on board and told <em>CBC News</em> that it was "really amazing" he and his fellow passengers were alive.</p> <p>"Everything just kind of went sideways," Carlson recalled.</p> <p>"One minute you're landing, kind of waiting to see your friends and your people, and the next minute you're physically upside down."</p> <p>Koukov, a professional skier from Colorado, told the <em>New York Times</em> that the flight was completely normal up until the final descent.</p> <p>"The second that the wheels hit the ground, then everything happened," he said. "The next thing I know, we're sideways."</p> <p>"We ended up completely upside-down. I unbuckled pretty fast and kind of lowered myself to the floor, which was the ceiling. People were panicking."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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One dead, five injured after rock star's private jet crashes on runway

<p>A private jet owned by <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Vince Neil, </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">the lead singer of legendary rock band Motley Crue, has crashed on the runway at Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Arizona, leaving one person dead and several others injured.</span></p> <p>The Learjet 35A veered off the runway upon landing at approximately 2:45pm local time on Monday, colliding with a parked Gulfstream G200 business jet. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.</p> <p>Neil, 64, was not on board at the time of the accident. However, his girlfriend, Rain Andreani, and her friend, Ashley, were both passengers. Both women were hospitalised, with Andreani reportedly suffering five broken ribs. Their pet dogs, also on board, were unharmed.</p> <p>A statement from Neil’s legal representatives confirmed the details of the incident, and said that their “thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and (Neil) is grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today.” </p> <p>Scottsdale Fire Department officials said five people were involved in the crash, with two critically injured and another in stable condition. One passenger remained trapped in the wreckage as rescue crews worked to extract them.</p> <p>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is leading an investigation into the crash. Airport officials stated that a failure in one of the Learjet’s landing gears may have contributed to the accident, and the airport remains temporarily closed while authorities assess the scene.</p> <p>Images circulating on social media show the wreckage of both aircraft on the tarmac, with emergency responders at the site. Further details, including the identity of the deceased, remain undisclosed as investigations continue.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram | TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"This ruined my life": Mum still seeking justice after horror e-bike crash

<p>Sarah was crossing on George Street in Sydney's CBD on February 2023 when she was brutally struck by a Lime e-bike rider. At the time of the accident, she was three months pregnant. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Yahoo News</em>, Sarah explained she had been crossing the street when she heard someone yell "look out!" but before she could react, she was knocked down by the speeding vehicle. </p> <p>She claims that the bike user was illegally riding with a companion on the handle bars at the time, and fled the scene when she cried out "my baby!" </p> <p>Fortunately, Sarah's unborn daughter was unharmed during the incident, but she was left with lifelong injuries. </p> <p>"My foot was crushed, I had dislocations and many broken bones, and I needed 21 screws, two plates and two pins," Sarah said. </p> <p> "As a result of the injury, the skin on my foot began to die with fracture blisters, so I needed skin grafts as well.</p> <p>"I required six surgeries on my foot in total. One on my elbow, which was broken. One big plate and seven screws. Six weeks of non-weight bearing on my arm, and much longer on my foot. Around 12 weeks plus altogether."</p> <p>It took the mum six months after the accident to be able to walk again - three weeks before she gave birth. </p> <p>"The pain was unbelievable," she recalled. </p> <p>"The trauma was unbelievable. It was all just horrible, horrendous. It really was." </p> <p>Her family tried to seek compensation from Lime, but they deflected any blame saying that they would only take responsibility if the accident was caused by a faulty Lime bike, but not reckless riding. </p> <p>Since Lime e-bikes are rented by individuals, liability typically falls on the rider, not the company, they argued.</p> <p>The family's solicitor had also obtained CCTV footage of the incident, and had tried to get police to follow up but have been hit with multiple roadblocks since. </p> <p>"The police had their name, addresses, mobile and photos. [But] they only called one time, and went to the house one time. That's it. A high commissioner rang me to apologise, but then they still did nothing."</p> <p>Now, Sarah and her family are calling for the total ban of e-bikes in Australia. </p> <p>"They should be banned," Sarah said. "The government and Lime have just let loose motorised vehicles that can hurt riders and pedestrians, and have not covered anyone but themselves.</p> <p>"There is no policing how fast they are going. This ruined my body, my life and my first pregnancy. And nobody has been held accountable."</p> <p>While Sarah's baby was unharmed in the accident, nine months after her birth, the baby girl "was found to have tetralogy of Fallot" — a rare but serious heart defect that affects how blood flows through the heart.</p> <p>"She needed open heart surgery and will need it every 10 years. My injuries made everything a lot harder. But hopefully I can change things," Sarah said.</p> <p>"I'm certainly scarred for life."</p> <p><em>Image: Yahoo News</em></p>

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Supersonic jets are making a comeback – but despite the hype, don’t expect to book yet

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340">Chris James</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p>Late last week, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-achieves-supersonic-flight">piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier</a> since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003.</p> <p>It’s the first step in Boom’s ambitious goal to have <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/united">supersonic airliners carry passengers by 2029</a>.</p> <p>But what exactly is supersonic travel? There are good reasons why it’s not more common, despite the hype.</p> <h2>What is supersonic flight?</h2> <p>The Mach number is defined as a plane’s speed divided by the speed that sound waves move through the air. To “break the sound barrier” means to fly faster than the speed of sound, with Mach numbers greater than 1.</p> <p>The Mach number is an important ratio: as a plane flies, it disturbs the air in front of it. These disturbances move at the speed of sound. In supersonic flight these disturbances combine to form shock waves around the vehicle.</p> <p>When people say you can see a fighter jet before you hear it, they’re referring to supersonic flight: <a href="https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/top-10-worlds-fastest-fighter-jets">fighter jets can travel at around Mach 2</a>.</p> <p>The sound from the fighter jet is trapped inside its shock wave; until the shock wave moves to your position on the ground, you won’t hear the plane.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=360&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=360&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=360&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=452&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=452&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646302/original/file-20250202-15-d01bme.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=452&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Illustration of how disturbances propagate in subsonic, Mach 1, and supersonic flow.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transonico-en.svg">Chabacano/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The allure of supersonic travel</h2> <p>For efficiency reasons, most passenger jets cruise slightly slower than the speed of sound, at around Mach 0.8 (this is subsonic flight).</p> <p>Boom plans to build <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">an airliner called Overture</a> that can fly at Mach 1.7. Flying supersonically can drastically decrease flight times. The company claims a trip <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/summer-travel-trends-future-travel-onboard-overture">from New York to Rome</a> on Overture could take just four hours and 40 minutes, instead of eight hours.</p> <p>Boom isn’t the only company working on this lofty goal. American firm Spike Aerospace is also developing a supersonic business jet, <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/spike-s-512-supersonic-diplomat/">with the tagline</a> “delivering the world in half the time”.</p> <p>This is the value proposition of supersonic passenger travel.</p> <p>In limited ways, it did already exist in the 20th century. However, due to timing, bad luck and the laws of physics, it didn’t continue.</p> <h2>Remember the Concorde?</h2> <p>Designs for supersonic airliners began in the mid-20th century, and by the 1970s we had supersonic passenger flight.</p> <p>There was the little-known <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144">Russian Tupolev-144</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Concorde">Concorde</a>, a Franco-British supersonic airliner operated by British Airways and Air France from 1976 to 2003.</p> <p>Concorde had a capacity of <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-cabin--passenger-experience">up to 128 passengers</a> and cruised at Mach 2. It regularly travelled from London to New York <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-happened-concordes">in around three hours</a>. The flights were expensive, mainly shuttling business people and the rich and famous.</p> <h2>Why supersonic passenger flight didn’t take off</h2> <p>Concorde was designed in the 1960s when it seemed like supersonic passenger transport was going to be the next big thing.</p> <p>Instead, the Boeing 747 <a href="https://www.boeing.com/commercial/747-8">entered commercial service in 1970</a>. Cheap, large and efficient airliners like it blew Concorde out of the water.</p> <p>Designed to cruise efficiently at supersonic speeds, Concorde was extremely fuel inefficient when taking off and accelerating. Concorde’s expensive, “<a href="https://phys.org/news/2019-03-concorde-technical-feat-financial-fiasco.html">gas guzzling</a>” nature was a complaint levelled against it for most of its lifetime.</p> <p>A catastrophic <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/tu-144-crash-puzzle-persists-50-years-after-fatal-paris-display/153782.article">1973 Paris air show crash</a> of the competing Russian airliner, Tupolev Tu-144, also shifted public perception on supersonic flight safety at a time when many airlines were considering whether or not to purchase Concordes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/airframe-detail">Only 20 Concordes were manufactured</a> out of the <a href="https://simpleflying.com/concorde-orders/">planned 100</a>. It is still disputed today whether Concorde <a href="http://www.concordesst.com/faq.html">ever made money for the airlines who operated it</a>.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646303/original/file-20250202-15-gjm1zn.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Illustration of a shock wave propagating from a supersonic aeroplane and hitting the ground to produce a sonic boom.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supersonic_shockwave_cone.svg">Cmglee/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Noise is a real problem for supersonic flight</h2> <p>Remember the fighter jets? When a plane travels supersonically, its shock waves propagate to the ground, <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104540/sonic-boom/">causing loud disturbances called sonic booms</a>. In extreme cases they can shatter windows and damage buildings.</p> <p>In the early 1970s, sonic boom concerns led the United States government to <a href="https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/supersonic-travel-dead-on-arrival/">ban supersonic passenger flight over land in the US</a>. This hurt the Concorde’s potential market, hence its only two regular routes were trans-Atlantic flights principally over the water.</p> <p>The Concorde was also a very loud plane at take off, since it needed a lot of thrust to leave the ground.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3x9hO7n5WiA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Video footage of the final Concorde takeoff from New York’s JFK airport.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The future of supersonic travel</h2> <p>A future for supersonic travel relies on solving some or all of the issues Concorde faced.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/quesst/">NASA and Lockheed Martin’s Quesst project</a> aims to show sonic boom can be dissipated to manageable levels. They plan to fly their X-59 supersonic aircraft over US cities and gauge responses from citizens.</p> <p>Quesst aims to use the geometry of the X-59, with a long elongated nose, to dissipate sonic booms to a weak “thump”, hopefully allowing supersonic airliners to travel over land in the future.</p> <p>Spike Aerospace’s Spike S-512 Diplomat concept also aims to be a <a href="https://www.spikeaerospace.com/quiet-supersonic-flight/">“quiet” supersonic aircraft</a> with a less disruptive sonic boom.</p> <h2>Can Boom surpass Concorde?</h2> <p>Boom Supersonic don’t plan to fly supersonically over land. Their plan is to fly over land at Mach 0.94, which they claim will allow <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">20% faster overland travel</a> than standard passenger airliners, even subsonically.</p> <p>They also claim the design of their engines will ensure Overture is <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/flyby/the-new-sound-of-supersonic-q-a-with-booms-principal-acoustic-engineer">no louder than modern subsonic airliners when it takes off</a>.</p> <p>In terms of gas guzzling, they plan to use up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions and <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-and-dimensional-energy-announce-sustainable-aviation-fuel-offtake-agreement">their carbon footprint</a>.</p> <p>Concorde was made of aluminium using design tools available in the 1960s. Modern design methods and modern aerospace materials such as titanium and carbon fibre should also allow Overture and similar craft to weigh much less than Concorde, improving efficiency.</p> <p>While Boom are currently receiving a lot of interest, <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture">with orders from many airlines</a>, Concorde did have similar commitment before it become available. <a href="https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-orders-and-options">Most of it didn’t eventuate</a>.</p> <p>Additionally, Concorde was the product of an analogue era when the idea of flying to London or New York for the day for an important business meeting seemed like a necessary thing. In a world of remote work and video meetings, is there still a need for a supersonic airliner in the 2020s?</p> <p>For now, supersonic airliners like Overture are likely to remain in the realm of the rich and famous, like Concorde did. But with modern technological advances, it will be interesting to see whether supersonic passenger travel once again becomes reality – or even goes mainstream. Only time will tell.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248656/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-james-1178340"><em>Chris James</em></a><em>, UQ Amplify Senior Lecturer, Centre for Hypersonics, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Boom Supersonic </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/supersonic-jets-are-making-a-comeback-but-despite-the-hype-dont-expect-to-book-yet-248656">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

International Travel

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Bus crashes into suburban Sydney home

<p>A bus carrying multiple passengers has crashed into a home in south-west Sydney. </p> <p>Emergency services were called to Aplin Road in Bonnyrigg heights on Tuesday morning following reports a bus had smashed into a house. </p> <p>Fortunately nobody was in the house at the time of the crash, according to NSW police. </p> <p>Six people were treated for minor injuries, with the bus driver, a man in his 50s, taken to Liverpool Hospital with minor injuries. </p> <p>The crash caused significant damage to the home, with a part of the roof caving in, however, NSW Fire and Rescue has confirmed that the structure of the home is safe. </p> <p>An investigation into the crash is still ongoing, with a tow truck extracting the bus from the house since the accident. </p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Olympic couple identified in horror plane crash

<p>Two world champion figure skaters are among dozens of casualties killed after a passenger plane carrying 64 people collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter in the US. </p> <p>The mid-air crash happened about 9pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday (1pm Thursday AEDT), when the aircrafts collided and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. </p> <p>As officials confirmed that rescue efforts had shifted to a recovery operation, two of the first victims identified were Russian Olympians and married couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.</p> <p>Their son, Maxim Naumov, 23, is also feared to have been on board.</p> <p>Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice.</p> <p>It is believed the family were returning home after Maxim had been competing at the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.</p> <p>Russia’s Mash news outlet published a list of 13 skaters, many of them the children of Russian emigres to the US, who it said were believed to have been on the plane.</p> <p>Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed their death to reporter, saying, "Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington."</p> <p>"We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash."</p> <p>The bodies of three US soldiers have also been recovered from the river as the recovery operations remains ongoing. </p> <p>American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at this stage it wasn't known why the two aircrafts collided.</p> <p>"I want to express my sincere condolences for the accident that happened at DCA last night," he said.</p> <p>"We're absolutely heartbroken for the family and loved ones of the passengers and crew members, and also for those that were on the military aircraft."</p> <p>According to Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, the helicopter crew "very experienced" and had flown the nighttime route countless times before. </p> <p>US President Donald Trump addressed the devastating crash in the White House, located about five kilometres away from the fatal crash site.</p> <p>"As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly," Trump said.</p> <p>"We'll find out how this disaster occurred and will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Community rallies around family after fatal Australia Day crash

<p>A tight-knit community has rallied together to support a grieving widow and her children after her husband and four-year-old son were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/father-and-four-year-old-son-killed-in-australia-day-crash-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> in a car crash on Australia Day.</p> <p>Chris Vrbesic, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene after his Holden Commodore collided with another car at an intersection in Brisbane's bayside. </p> <p>His four-year-old son Julian was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. </p> <p>The classic car community, of which Mr Vrbesic was an avid member, has since stepped up to help his widow Maria and the couple's two surviving children Myla and Vinnie since the sudden and tragic crash. </p> <p>Family friend Brittany Claxton said young son Julian was "so full of life and he loved his Tata [father] so so much".</p> <p>"He was sure to remind us of his favourite person - Tata," she said. "The pair had an unbreakable bond and his mumma realised they were just destined to be together forever."</p> <p>"Juju was an old soul who had a knack for making any adult do exactly what he wanted. Even staring contests and telling you EXACTLY what he thought of you."</p> <p>"Juju, that cheeky grin and even cheekier laugh will stick with us all forever. It will be the light that guides us all. Our mad dog forever."</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-chris-juju-support-for-the-vrbesics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page was created by Clayton to support the grieving family, and has reached over $130,000 in donations.</p> <p>The fundraiser reads, "In order to relieve the financial burden in this unsettling time we are raising funds for Chris' loving wife and Juju's incredible mama Maria."</p> <p>"We hope to take away a small amount of the pressure as they process their grief. If you had the privilege to know this man - you know he was an incredibly loving Dad, supportive husband, loving son, grandson, big brother and a friend to so many."</p> <p>"The way he lived his life full of joy, passion and drive was admirable and we should all be inspired to live the same, in honour of him."</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / LinkedIn</em></p>

Caring

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Father and four-year-old son killed in Australia Day crash identified

<p>A father who was killed alongside his four-year-old son in a horror car crash on Brisbane's bayside has been identified as Chris Vrbesic.</p> <p>Emergency services were called to Ransome just before 9am on Australia Day, after a blue Holden Commodore collided with a red Mitsubishi Lancer on Rickertt Road at an intersection. </p> <p>Vrbesic, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene and his son was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital, where he died.</p> <p>The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 29-year-old Birkdale man, suffered minor injuries and was helped by bystanders before he was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment.</p> <p>Vrbesic, from Manly West, has been remembered by his friends and loved ones as a "family man" with a "big heart". </p> <p>A friend who stopped by the crash site told <em>The Courier Mail</em>: “I think you’re going to find this will be one of those tragedies … thousands of people it is going to affect.”</p> <p>"He helped so many people, he had such a big f***ing heart." </p> <p>The father-of-three was a project manager at Innate Developments - a company that specialises in residential and commercial construction.</p> <p>Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie shared their condolences for the family, saying: "Any life lost on Queensland roads is one too many and we must do anything we can to ensure safety on our roads." </p> <p>"If it's under police investigation obviously police must investigate the circumstances of what happened but there are communities hurting and families hurting."</p> <p>Police are investigating whether speed was a factor in the collision. </p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Image: LinkedIn</span></em></p>

Caring

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Big change for new buses after Hunter Valley crash

<p>Australian buses and coaches fitted with seatbelts will soon be required to have announcements reminding people to buckle up, following the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash that killed 10 people almost two years ago. </p> <p>On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the new rule will require these vehicles to include visual and audio alerts reminding passengers to buckle up, similar to those on airplanes. </p> <p>“Travelling by bus is one of the safest forms of transport in Australia, and these new audible and visual signage requirements will ensure this continues to be the case,” federal assistant Regional Development Minister Anthony Chisholm said.</p> <p>The government also announced it had closed a loophole where some buses with seats under 1m high were exempted from requiring seatbelts. </p> <p>Under the regulations, all new bus and coach models must comply by November 1, 2026, while existing models will need to make the changes by November 1, 2027.</p> <p>“These safety outcomes further improve what is generally regarded as the most stringent seatbelt rules for buses in the world,” Bus industry confederation chair Tony Hopkins said. </p> <p>“With seat belt usage currently as low as 7 per cent on some services, this provides a simple but powerful message that reminds bus passengers to fasten a seat belt.</p> <p>“After all, if a seat belt is provided in a bus it must be worn by law.”</p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Mino Surkala / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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"Unfair" Australia Day ban sparks outrage

<p>A camping area in Bundeena has been slammed for making the "unfair" decision to ban boats and jet skis from Australia Day celebrations, with locals claiming they were left in the dark about the decision. </p> <p>The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will ban people from releasing their boats and jet skis from the access point at Bonnie Vale over the long weekend - the most popular time of the year to use the facility. </p> <p>The access point will be shut from 9pm on Friday, January 24 to 7am on Tuesday, January 28. </p> <p>Local Andrew Petty said he paid more than $300 for a camping holiday with his family and intended to take his kids fishing, but their plans have been derailed because of the ban. </p> <p>"We have one of the most beautiful waterways for all to use," he said. </p> <p>"We pay our boating licence, registration, fishing licence, national park entry fee, camping fee, and are denied access to the only ramp on that side of the Port Hacking."</p> <p>Petty added that he would have to drive more than an hour away to find another ramp to launch his boat, and believed he was paying the price for irresponsible jet ski users. </p> <p>"Maritime don't have the resources to prevent jet ski hooning so their alternative is to just force close the ramp and hire in traffic cops to police ramp access," he said. </p> <p>He believed that the ban was "unfair" because a lot of the traffic comes from jet ski users coming from the other side of Port Hacking. </p> <p>Another local called the move "another example of a government agency creating a problem instead of looking for more practical solutions." </p> <p>Locals also argued that the boat ramp offered a safe access point for leaving the isolated area in an emergency. </p> <p>The Port Hacking River is known for jet ski infringements in NSW and authorities claim they cause significant traffic congestion on nearby roads when the Royal National Park is full. </p> <p>They also said they hoped the closure would also improve safety for swimmers. </p> <p>"Public safety is always our number one priority and this temporary closure ensures Bonnie Vale remains a safer and more enjoyable space for all visitors over the long weekend," NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Royal area manager Brendon Neilly said.</p> <p>NSW Maritime officer Jay Ruming added that the state had recorded 1,700 jet-ski infringements in the past 12 months.</p> <p>"Our data tells us that jet skis are heavily over-represented in serious injury incidents. People involved in an accident on a jet ski have a 50 per cent likelihood they'll suffer a serious injury," he said. </p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Victorian plane crash victims identified

<p>Three young men have been killed after a light plane crash in eastern Victoria at around 5.45pm on Saturday. </p> <p>Pilot Luke Smith, 20, his younger brother Ben Smith, 16, and their cousin Dustin Daly, 15, were on board the plane when it crashed into a paddock and burst into flames at Tinamba West in east Gippsland. </p> <p>They were only 15 minutes into the flight, which took off from West Sale airport, when the tragic incident occurred. </p> <p>The plane was reportedly seen circling several times, with witnesses saying they heard a strange sound coming from the aircraft in the moments before the crash. </p> <p>“From accounts that I’ve seen, there may have been circling or manoeuvring to resolve that issue or to try to find somewhere to land and unfortunately, that has happened,” Aviation Projects managing director Keith Tonkin said.</p> <p>Luke Smith has held a pilot licence since 2022 and was also an instructor. His aviation consultant and flying instructor Lorraine MacGillivray has paid tribute to the three young men. </p> <p>“They were all absolutely delightful human beings, and so this is a terrible loss,” MacGillivray said.</p> <p>“The conversations I had with him, he was diligent and he was committed and he was passionate about his flying,” MacGillivray said.</p> <p>“He was also a flight instructor.”</p> <p>The brothers were also heavily involved in the Tongala football and cricket clubs, who have since offered counselling to the grieving regional community. </p> <p>The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash, with a team of investigators specialising aircraft operations and maintenance looking into what happened. </p> <p>The ATSB described the plane as "amateur-built light aircraft" and will examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and comb through flight tracking data to try and determine what went wrong. </p> <p>“We’ll start looking at the records of the plane itself, and maintenance records and pilot qualifications and the actual tasking or the nature of the flight itself,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.</p> <p>Witnesses who saw the incident or anyone who has photos or videos of the plane have been asked to come forward. </p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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Heroic kindergarten teacher identified after horror crash

<p>A heroic kindergarten teacher who died saving preschoolers from an out-of-control water tanker that crashed through the school's playground has been identified. </p> <p>Mother-of-two Eleanor Bryant worked with children with special needs at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School in Riddells Creek in Melbourne’s northwest.</p> <p>Bryant tragically died at the scene after the crash, while a three-year-old boy was injured and was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a serious upper-body injury following the incident, Ambulance Victoria said.</p> <p>The driver of the truck, 68, is thought to have had a medical episode and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, but police are still investigating the incident.</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> reporter Teegan Dolling paid tribute to Bryant on Tuesday morning, saying, “She is the mum herself of two really young children. She’s been remembered this morning as a very happy speech pathologist, and mum who loved it here at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School."</p> <p>“What she did yesterday police are saying was heroic. She was working here at the school looking after a three-year-old boy. It was around 2.30pm when the water truck came hurtling down the road, smashed through the play equipment and it was playtime.</p> <p>“The preschoolers were out on the playground. She’s selflessly put herself in harm’s way … saving the life of the three-year-old.</p> <p>“Sadly, she died at the scene. A little boy was rushed to hospital. He’s got injuries to his upper body. As to why this has happened, the police are still investigating.</p> <p>“The scene is cleared here this morning. They believe the 68-year-old truck driver may have had a medical episode.”</p> <p>McKenzie Water owner Alan McKenzie confirmed that the truck belonged to his company and the driver was understood to have suffered a medical episode, adding that they were "devastated" by the crash and sending their "deepest sympathies" to those affected. </p> <p>Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations led them to believe the truck lost control on a bridge about 120m from the kindergarten.</p> <p>“It appears there’s some contact with that bridge — we can see some debris,” he said. “There are also some signs on the left-hand side of the road that appear to have been struck as well."</p> <p>“It’s a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse. This is one of those close calls and I don’t know how only one person has died today.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven</em></p>

Caring

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Kate Ritchie involved in multi-vehicle car crash

<p>Kate Ritchie has been involved in a multi-vehicle car crash in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. </p> <p>The radio host was reportedly behind the wheel of her BMW when the incident unfolded in Randwick, with eye-witnesses claiming Ritchie's care collided with a parked Mitsubishi Pajero, forcefully pushing it off the road and into a parked Kia.</p> <p>The owner of the Kia, who wished to remain anonymous, identified Ritchie as the driver of the BMW and confirmed that Ritchie shared her details with him following the collision.</p> <p>After the exchange, Kate, 46, expressed her need to leave promptly to pick up her nine-year-old daughter, Mae.</p> <p>He added that Kate said her personal assistant would follow up on the matter, and that Ritchie did not appear under the influence of alcohol, although no roadside sobriety test was administered by police. </p> <p>All three vehicles involved suffered substantial damage and were later towed away from the suburban street.</p> <p>Daily Mail Australia reached out to NSW Police who provided the following statement.</p> <p>"About 5.10pm on Wednesday (6 November 2024) emergency services were called to Dudley Street, Randwick, following reports of a crash," the statement read.</p> <p>"Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Inquiries revealed a BMW SUV crashed into a parked car."</p> <p> </p> <p>"The 46-year-old female driver of the SUV and the owner of the parked car exchanged details. No injuries were reported. No police action was required."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - ABC</em></p>

Legal

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Former pilot shares tips for fighting jet lag

<p dir="ltr">A former pilot has shared his fool-proof tips for beating jet lag when you’re flying to the other side of the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">As an ex-airline pilot, Jeremy Burfoot knows a thing or two about dealing with dreaded jet lag. </p> <p dir="ltr">After his years flying Qantas planes to every corner of the globe, Captain Burfoot has revealed to <em><a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/how-to-beat-jet-lag-ex-airline-pilot-shares-hack-for-flights-to-europe/656b0602-9cd2-4923-b3b4-1310a2613235">9Travel</a></em> the unique way he would combat the condition while he was working.  </p> <p dir="ltr">"I used to try and stay in a time zone of where I was living," he told <em>9Travel</em>. "So I went to London, I would just sleep during the day and go out at night."</p> <p dir="ltr">However, for those who need to be up during usual hours, he advised trying to avoid one thing.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The first day you get there, spend all day in the sun, in the daylight," he says. "Resist having an afternoon nap so you're really tired when you go to bed."</p> <p dir="ltr">Captain Burfoot went on to share his hacks for anyone flying from Australia or New Zealand to Europe, which can be some of the most gruelling flight paths in the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">"If I was planning to go to Europe, I would try to split it into two, try to fly both of the days in the daylight," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"You'd want to be on a flight to Singapore out of Australia that leaves in the morning, so you're basically doing a daylight flight to Singapore, then you have an overnight, eat some curry or something.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"And the next day catch a daylight flight to Europe. So it doesn't actually feel like you're up in the middle of the night."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Captain Jeremy Burfoot</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Grieving father pays tribute to young son killed in school crash

<p>The heart-broken father of the young boy who was killed when a car crashed through his school gate has spoken out about his profound loss. </p> <p>Jack Davey was sitting with friends when a car slammed through a fence and into a group of Year 5 students at Auburn South Primary School on Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>He was critically injured and died on the way to hospital, while four other children were also injured. </p> <p>As tributes for the young boy have started to emerge in the days following the accident, Jack’s father has also now publicly spoken for the first time following his son’s death.</p> <p>In a moving tribute, Mike Davey said he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life without his “beautiful” boy.</p> <p>“Our beautiful son. A shooting star who blessed us for 11 years with love, friendship and kindness,” he said. “You were my inspiration and motivation. I cannot comprehend the life ahead without you."</p> <p>“My mate, my champ, my Jackie-boi. Godspeed, until we meet again ... I love you.”</p> <p>His mother, dad and siblings visited a growing memorial for the student outside the school on Wednesday afternoon to read all the messages left in his honour.</p> <p>His father wore his son’s backpack and his two sisters left teddy bears.</p> <p>School mum and friend of the family Lucy Pristel along with some of the other school mums, decided to launch a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-davey" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:GoFundMe;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="15" data-v9y="1">GoFundMe</a> to help "ease the burden" of funeral costs, adding, "We just wanted to make life as easy as possible." </p> <p>In a matter of hours, the fundraiser has exceeded its goal, and at the time of writing over $160,000 has been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/boy-s-tragic-death-in-school-crash-sparks-incredible-community-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> by the community.</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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Boy's tragic death in school crash sparks incredible community response

<p>The 11-year-old boy who tragically died after a car <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/child-dies-after-car-crashes-through-school-gate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashed</a> through his school's gate has been identified, with a family friend sharing more details about the horrific accident. </p> <p>Jack Davey was sitting with friends when a car slammed through a fence and into a group of Year 5 students at Auburn South Primary School on Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>He was critically injured and died on the way to hospital, while four other children were also injured. </p> <p>School mum and friend of the family Lucy Pristel told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/incredible-response-after-boys-tragic-death-in-melbourne-school-crash-052951244.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a> the shocking incident has "affected" the entire "close-knit" community.</p> <p>“I have no words, to be honest with you. They are the most beautiful family. They would do anything for anyone,” she said. </p> <p>Lucy's own 11-year-old son, who is also a student at the school and played basketball with Jack, witnessed the tragedy unfold before his eyes.</p> <p>"Unfortunately a lot of the kids saw what happened," she said. "It's affected everybody. The school has offered councillors to us all, so there's been a lot of support. We're a close-knit community." </p> <p>To help support the grieving family, Lucy, along with some of the other school mums, decided to launch a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-davey" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:GoFundMe;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="15" data-v9y="1">GoFundMe</a> to help "ease the burden" of funeral costs, adding, "We just wanted to make life as easy as possible." </p> <p>In a matter of hours, the fundraiser has exceeded its goal, and at the time of writing over $140,000 has bee donated by the community.</p> <p>Lucy recalled the moment she found out about the horror that unfolded at the school on Tuesday afternoon, saying she didn't realise the extent of what had happened at first. </p> <p>"I actually drove past the school after it happened and didn't think much of it," she admitted. "Then I started hearing about it."</p> <p>"I ran down to the school... you could see parents for at least 300, 400 metres and I saw everyone hugging. That's when I knew something happened at our school [and not one of the others close by]."</p> <p>Ever since then, "everyone has just bound together," she said sharing the "pure horror" felt by everyone.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Child dies after car crashes through school gate

<p>One child has died and another four kids have been left injured after a car crash through a school gate in the east Melbourne suburb of Auburn. </p> <p>Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East on Tuesday afternoon after a car veered off the road and into the primary school's gate.</p> <p>The car collided with a table where five children were sitting. </p> <p>Two 11-year-old girls, one 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.</p> <p>An 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital with critical injuries, and later died.</p> <p>The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 40-year-old woman who was local to the area, and was arrested at the scene. </p> <p>A primary school-aged was also in the car at the time of the crash but remained unharmed. </p> <p>Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy said the driver was attempting a U-turn before veering off the road, and it appeared the crash was an accident.</p> <p>"It's tragic circumstances ... really tough for everyone involved," McEvoy said. "It's always a tough time when children are involved."</p> <p>"The ongoing investigation will take days, weeks, months," Inspector McEvoy added.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan also commented on the incident, saying it should have been an "unremarkable sunny day" at the school.</p> <p>"Instead, a dark shadow has been cast over our city and state," she wrote on X.</p> <p>"I'm sending my love and thoughts to the students, their families and the whole school communityAnd my thanks to the first responders on the scene," she said.</p> <p>"I know tonight Victorians will be thinking of Auburn South Primary, and holding our kids even closer."</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News / Nine News </em></p>

Caring

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Radio host almost paralysed after horrific bike crash

<p>Brisbane radio host Ben Dobbin is lucky to be alive after breaking his neck in a horrific bike crash.</p> <p>Dobbin, 48, was training for the Noose triathlon on Wednesday when he swerved to miss a snake on the road. </p> <p>The Triple M presenter crashed and was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured C5 vertebrae, and he underwent surgery on Thursday night.</p> <p>While on the road to recovery, he told the <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/triple-m-star-ben-dobbins-horrific-bike-crash-leaves-him-hospitalised-with-broken-neck-and-spinal-injuries/news-story/3ceade005e05dc46bd9a197f352886d8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sunday Mail</em> </a>that he was “that close” to being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life that it was “not funny”.</p> <p>“My front tyre clipped his back tyre and I lost control, shot across [the road], got spat out and went head first into the one and only steel pole,” he said. </p> <p>He recalled how the neurosurgeon that operated on him through his throat also told the father-of-five that there’s a risk he could lose his voice altogether, saying, “I told him ‘that’s my career’ and he said ‘my priority is to save you from being in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.’”</p> <p>Despite telling the outlet that “most people who have this type of injury don’t ever walk again”, Dobbin was up and taking his first few steps on Friday.</p> <p>“I don’t know how long I’ll be in hospital for, they haven’t told me,” he said. “I’ve been in agony, but it’s more the mental side of things that’s harder to deal with, if I’m honest."</p> <p>“I know one thing, I’ll never get on a bike again.”</p> <p>Dobbins co-hosts Leisel Jones and Liam Flanagan on <em>The Rush Hour with Leisel, Liam and Dobbo</em> informed listeners of the accident on Wednesday, saying that Dobbin was expected to make a “full recovery”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Charges dropped over crash that killed five people

<p>The elderly driver who was charged after his car crashed into a pub in Victoria, resulting in the deaths of two children and three adults, will walk free after charges against him were dropped. </p> <p>William Herbert Swale, 66, had all charges dismissed after a magistrate ruled the evidence against him was “so weak”.</p> <p>Mr Swale's lawyers successfully argued his actions were not voluntary because he was in a state of severe hypoglycaemia, as he is an insulin-dependent diabetic. </p> <p>The devastating crash occurred on November 5th 2023, when Mr Swale's car sped down a hill before crashing into an outdoor dining area outside The Royal Daylesford Hotel.</p> <p>Pratibha Sharma, her husband Jatin Chugh, and her daughter Anvi were enjoying the last of the weekend at the pub when Mr Swale's BMW crashed through the pub. </p> <p>Sharma and Chugh <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/entire-town-in-mourning-as-daylesford-crash-victims-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> at the scene, while nine-year-old Anvi was flown to hospital but did not survive her injuries and was later pronounced dead. </p> <p>The family were joined by their friends, Vivek Bhatia, 38, his wife, and their two kids at the pub. </p> <p>Vivek and his 11-year-old son Vihaan were both killed in the crash, while the 36-year-old woman, and a second son, aged six, were taken to hospital for their injuries and survived. </p> <p>Initially rushed to hospital after the crash, Mr Swale was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/major-update-in-daylesford-crash-tragedy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged</a> with 14 offences following a month-long police investigation.</p> <p>Prosecutors alleged that as a type-1 diabetic of 30 years, Mr Swale should've known not to be driving while in a state of hypoglycaemia, alleging gross negligence.</p> <p>After a three-day hearing, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin determined the evidence against Mr Swale was so flawed it should not be sent to a higher court for a jury trial, and instead dismissed all charges. </p> <p>“It is reasonably possible the accused was suffering a severe hypoglycemic event; the result of which means his actions in driving from 5.36pm onwards were not voluntary,” Magistrate Bailin said. “The evidence is so weak that the prospects of convictions are minimal."</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News / Magistrates' Court of Victoria</em></p> <p> </p>

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