A police officer has issued desperate plea to politicians and vigilantes following the tragic death of his close friend killed in a horror crash.
Jennifer Board, 22, was killed instantly when two cars collided and spun out of control at an intersection in Townsville on Friday night, one smashing into her.
The fatal crash devastated the Far North Queensland city, where many blamed the state’s ‘broken’ youth justice laws for the tragedy.
Police have since arrested a teenage girl, 17 over the crash and charged her with fives counts of unlawful use of a vehicle and one count of stealing.
Jennifer Board, 22, (pictured) was killed after she was hit by a vehicle that had just ploughed into another car at an intersection in Thuringowa Central, in Townsville on Friday night
The fatal crash devastated the Far North Queensland city, where many blamed the state’s ‘broken’ youth justice laws for the tragedy
The young fitness enthusiast’s shattered family is also grappling with a fake fundraising page being set up in her father’s name by scammers.
Ms Board’s home was also broken in the early hours of Sunday morning – just hours after the crash that claimed her life.
Her shattered father Graham opened up about his heartache, along with her sister Siana who mourned the loss of a ‘beautiful’ young girl.
Local policeman Luke Matthews also penned a heartbreaking tribute to his close friend while pleading for youth justice laws to be overhauled.
‘I am not one to turn to social media to express my feelings or vent but if this even has the slightest chance of changing the way crime is dealt with in Queensland then it’s worth a shot,’ the lengthy Facebook post begins.
‘Myself and my fellow officers deal with these same offenders all the time and the current youth justice process does not work.’
‘We are just as fed as the community are.’
Jennifer Board (pictured) was hoping to become a police officer in Queensland
Mr Matthews described the aspiring police officer as ‘one of the loveliest, most innocent people I have ever met’.
Ms Board was killed when two out-of-control cars collided, forcing one to spin onto the other side of the road, where Ms Board was travelling on her motorbike.
One of the cars, a Hyundai sedan, was allegedly stolen, while the Holden Statesman also involved in the crash was allegedly driven by vigilantes trying to catch up with the driver.
The police officer had a blunt message for vigilantes.
‘Your actions are extremely dangerous and have claimed the life of an innocent woman,’ he wrote.
‘So please f**king stop!’
‘It doesn’t matter what your intent was, the fact you have claimed an innocent life as a result of you vigilante actions undoes all the good you though you are doing.’
Tributes continue to flow for Jennifer Board (right), killed in a horror crash on Fridau night. She’s pictured with sister Siana (left)
Ms Board was killed when two out-of-control cars collided, forcing one to spin onto the other side of the road, where Ms Board was travelling on her motorbike
The police officer issued a passionate plea for an overhaul to the Youth Crimes Act so juveniles charged with serious crimes remain in custody.
‘We need to start acknowledging that despite the fact they’re juveniles, their actions have very serious consequences and if they’re committing these very serious offences all of the exact same nature over and over again, why are they even being released?’ he wrote.
‘Despite our extreme efforts, they are refusing to comply with legislation and clearly have no concern for it or human life.
‘Please, reconsider the sentences given to repeat offenders and out an end to this mess. Adult or juvenile, they deserve hark punishment.’
Mr Matthews claimed to personally know three other fellow officers who were recently hospitalised after another incident involving an allegedly stolen car.
‘Let’s change the way we do things because the way we are working right now is proven to be broken,’ he ended the harrowing post.
‘Rest in peace Jen. You did not deserve this.’
The poignant post went viral online with hundreds of comments after it was shared by Ms Board’s sister and community Facebook groups.
A police officer and close friend of Jennifer Board posted a heartfelt post on Saturday
Earlier on Sunday, Ms Board’s heartbroken father echoed calls for reform.
‘I couldn’t believe it, but I had to believe it,’ Mr Board told the Townsville Bulletin of the moment he heard about his daughter’s life had been cut short.
He hopes his only biological daughter’s death will force the Queensland government to take a tougher stance against youth crime.
‘So much of these stolen cars have been going on in Townsville and all they get is a slap on the fingers and they let them go out again,’ he said, reportedly as he slammed his fist down on his coffee table.
‘I’ve lost my only (biological) daughter – they’ll say ‘Get over it Graham, tough luck Graham’, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.
‘Nobody should ever have to bury a daughter.
Police announced on Sunday night that a teenage girl, 17, has been charged over the fatal crash.
Police will allege teen was a passenger of the stolen Hyundai sedan.
She was charged with five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of stealing in relation to an alleged petrol drive-off.
She was refused bail to appear in Townsville Children’s Court on Monday.
Police continue their investigations in relation to the other occupants believed to be in the alleged stolen Hyundai.
Officers urge anyone who may have information to contact police.
The 22-year-old’s last post to Instagram showed her celebrating the moment she received her restricted motorcycle licence, having got her learner’s permit three months earlier
Ms Board’s death came on the same day Queensland MP Stephen Allan set up an online petition calling for an overhaul of youth crime legislation.
‘Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that Queensland’s youth justice system has failed to preserve the public’s right to safety, while its laws have abandoned the ‘rule of law’ principles and traditions that this nation was built on,’ the parliamentary petition states.
‘Today the cries for justice from victims and their families are lost in a maelstrom of ‘woke’ culture posturing and identity politics.
‘Calls from the public for order to be maintained and laws enforced routinely fall on deaf ears. Queenslanders have lost faith in their justice system.’
Queensland transport minister Mark Bailey admits the youth bail laws need overhauling.
‘I think there’s no doubt that people have been shocked at the number of the instances over the last two weeks, including the last couple of days,’ he said on Sunday.
‘A number of people have died, who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it’s incredible tragedies.
‘The government absolutely understands the gravity of this issue and we’re working through it thoroughly to have the most effective response that we can.’
The plea comes as an outpouring of public tributes continues to flow for Ms Board.
Townsville Futsal Association has announced an annual mixed tournament in Ms Board’s honour, while the national body plans to name a national titles trophy after her.
Jennifer Board, 22, was killed instantly after two cars collided and spun out of control at an intersection in Thuringowa Central, in Townsville on Friday night
‘Jen played in our regular mixed competition, including a game this week,’ the sports organisation posted on Sunday night.
‘Suffice to say the unfortunate accident and the reasons that lead to her death have received nationwide publicity, we can only send all our condolences to all her family.
‘Life is so unfair when this happens to someone so young. We will also pass on on this site information about details of the funeral when we get them.
Scammers set up a fake fundraising page in her name.
Her devastated family released a statement on Sunday to explain they had seen a fundraising page had been set up ‘to cover the costs of her funeral’.
But they urged the public not to donate to any such fundraisers, explaining that they were fakes.
‘I can’t believe I actually have to write this, but last night a fake ‘GO FUND ME’ was set up to raise funds for Jennifer’s funeral expenses,’ John Board wrote in a post on Facebook.
‘Our family has not, and will not, be setting up any such type of fundraiser so please do not donate to them.’
The fundraising page was set up on a website called ‘gogetfunding’ and claims to have been made by a Graham Board – Ms Board’s ageing father.
Mr Board is suffering from the early stages of dementia and has been left heartbroken by his daughter’s death.
It comes as Ms Board’s house was broken into shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Just two people have donated to the false fundraiser to raise a total of $20, but John Board encouraged anybody who had been duped to contact authorities.
Given the Board family would not be setting up a GoFundMe page, they have asked anybody who wants to donate to instead give to the Townsville Futsal Association.
‘Perhaps a donation to the Townsville Futsal Association would be a nice gesture,’ he suggested.
‘Siana and Jennifer were both trying to raise funds for this club in December.’
Ms Board has been remembered as a ‘kind, bubbly and adventurous’ woman who will be ‘dearly missed’ within her community
Siana, who was Ms Board’s sister and best friend, previously said her late sister was the ‘most genuine soul’, who loved the colour orange.
‘Jennifer has never hurt a single person in this life,’ Siana told the Courier Mail. ‘I couldn’t think of a worse person for this to happen to.’
Siana also revealed that her sister had recently applied for the police service.
Having just moved to Darwin, she is now desperately trying to get back to Queensland to farewell her sister.
‘There are no flights today … it destroyed me to move away from her, and now this happens,’ Siana said.
Following her death, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced sweeping changes would be introduced in parliament this week to deal with juvenile criminals.
She said on Saturday that ‘everything is on the table’ but has not yet gone into detail about the changes.
‘I met yesterday with the Ministers for Police and Youth Justice and the Attorney-General as well as the heads of their departments and there will be announcements,’ she said.
The Premier said the crash was ‘a terrible tragedy on so many levels’.
‘My thoughts and prayers go out to loved ones, family and friends.’
Ms Board (pictured) was riding down the road just before 10pm on Friday when she was struck
Police alleged after the crash the stolen Hyundai fled the scene before the car was found abandoned in Garbutt an hour later.
The alleged driver of the Holden, a 25-year-old Bushland Beach man and his two passengers, a 41-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have any information regarding the incident to come forward as investigations continue.
The collision allegedly happened after a vigilante member of the public decided to ‘aggressively’ follow the allegedly stolen car, crossing the median strip of the road into the motorcycle’s path.
Superintendent Glen Ponting said: ‘I very strongly caution against any form of vigilante action.
‘Often times while people may have good intentions, it can result in unintended consequences.’
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the crash site on Saturday to farewell Jennifer Broad