PICTURED: Boy, seven, killed when his father’s truck burst into flames in devastating highway crash

‘He was a beautiful child who loved to be with his dad’: Devastated family remember a boy, 7, killed when a truck slammed into another semi-trailer and burst into flames in horror crash – as his father fights for life

  • A seven-year-old boy has been killed in a horror collision involving two trucks 
  • He was declared dead at the scene and the two drivers were taken to hospital 
  • Father said to be in a serious but stable condition after crash west of Brisbane
  • The boy has been remembered as a ‘beautiful boy’ who ‘loved to be with his Dad’ 
  • One of the trucks burst into flames after crash near Toowoomba, Queensland
  • Truck drivers across state to honour young boy in ‘lights on’ tribute on Friday

A seven-year-old boy who was killed when the truck his father was driving crashed into another semi-trailer and burst into flames has been described as a ‘beautiful boy who loved to be with his Dad’.

Ryan Pringle was declared dead at the scene of the crash on Thursday afternoon on the Gore Highway 65km west of Toowoomba.

His father Ben Pringle was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after their truck overturned and caught fire at the scene – trapping his son inside.

The boy’s grandmother Ingred Impekoven her family will ‘never be the same’ following Ryan’s death.

 

A seven-year-old boy (pictured) who was killed when the truck his father was driving crashed into another truck has been described as a ‘beautiful boy who loved to be with his Dad’

Ryan Pringle was declared dead at the scene of the crash on Thursday afternoon on the Gore Highway near Toowoomba. His father Ben Pringle (left) was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Ryan Pringle was declared dead at the scene of the crash on Thursday afternoon on the Gore Highway near Toowoomba. His father Ben Pringle (left) was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Ryan's (pictured) grandmother said : 'My grandson is the angel who has gone to heaven. He (her son) didn't think he would be working today, he was supposed to be off until New Year.'

Ryan’s (pictured) grandmother said : ‘My grandson is the angel who has gone to heaven. He (her son) didn’t think he would be working today, he was supposed to be off until New Year.’

She told ABC News: ‘My grandson is the angel who has gone to heaven. He (her son) didn’t think he would be working today, he was supposed to be off until New Year.

‘He loves his children so much, we don’t know how bad he is yet but he will never be the same.’ 

Police said both vehicles had been travelling south and the crash happened when one of the the trucks attempted to turn off the highway onto Gilgai Lane at Pampas.  

The boy’s father, 31, was taken to Toowoomba Hospital following the crash at about 5.10pm on Thursday afternoon.   

He was airlifted to the hospital from the scene, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said. 

The boy's grandmother Ingred Impekoven said her son had not originally planned to work on Thursday and added he will 'never be the same' following Ryan's death (one of the trucks pictured destroyed at side of road after bursting into flames)

The boy’s grandmother Ingred Impekoven said her son had not originally planned to work on Thursday and added he will ‘never be the same’ following Ryan’s death (one of the trucks pictured destroyed at side of road after bursting into flames)

In honour of the seven-year-old, truck drivers across Queensland will drive with their lights turned on on Friday.  

A spokesman for the father’s employer BW Metcalf confirmed the paramedic’s report the boy had become trapped in the crashed truck.

The spokesman said he would not comment on the matter further to Daily Mail Australia.

The driver of the other truck, 62, is reported to be in a critical condition at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

The Gore Highway near Gilgai Lane was closed to all traffic overnight.

Toowoomba Region mayor Paul Antonio, whose electorate includes Pampas, said there were some difficulties with the road surface’s construction – although he would not speculate on the cause of the crash.

He told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I drive past that junction every day to get to my property – the road is built on a plain very close to the Condamine River so it’s wet and dry in places and can be hard for road users.’ 

Queensland Trucking Association chief executive Gary Mahon said the organisation did not know the full circumstances of the crash yet.

‘It’s devastating what has happened. The little boy has been out for the day with his dad and tragically died,’ he said.

He said the road was a particularly popular stretch of the state’s highways for truckers.

‘Clearly there’s a lot of people who have felt strongly about this,’ he said of the accident.

The boy's father, 31, was taken to Toowoomba Hospital following the crash at about 5.10pm on Thursday afternoon (pictured paramedics treat one of the two men on a stretcher at the scene)

The boy’s father, 31, was taken to Toowoomba Hospital following the crash at about 5.10pm on Thursday afternoon (pictured paramedics treat one of the two men on a stretcher at the scene)

One of the trucks had burst into flames and been destroyed, with footage taken at the scene showing its wreckage smoldering by the side of the road.

The road reopened on Friday morning at about 7am.  

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating and officers spoke to witnesses at the scene.

Police are appealing to any members of the public who witnessed the incident or who have relevant dash-cam footage to contact police.

Another man, 62, was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition while the Gore Highway near Gilgai Lane was closed to all traffic overnight (scene pictured)

Another man, 62, was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition while the Gore Highway near Gilgai Lane was closed to all traffic overnight (scene pictured)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk