Residents stillin shock after Redbank Plains crash

A BROKEN tree is all that remains of a car accident that claimed the life of a six-year-old girl in Redbank Plains.

A sedan with a 26-year-old man and four children ploughed into the tree while travelling on Henty Dr last week.

The accident site now served as a memorial for residents who witnessed the event to express their heartache and try to come to terms with the tragedy.

Heidi Chipreo was one of the first on the scene and said she still felt overwhelmed.

"It was chaotic - as soon as we heard the loud crash, the neighbourhood rushed outside," she said.

"I tried to keep the kids calm as I administered CPR on one of them. Everyone else was doing all they could to help."

The other children and man were taken to the Mater Hospital with serious injuries.

Travis Madden, who lives across the road, said it was one of the worse things he'd ever seen.

"It was horrific," he said. "The driver of the vehicle was in complete shock - just totally numb.

"I work as a traffic controller and was able to use my equipment to cordon off the area and clear the way for emergency vehicles."

Mr Madden, who has lived in the area for several years, said the tragedy brought to attention the need for better road safety in the area.

The father of two said further measures needed to be put in place to slow traffic down on Henty Dr.

"The speed limit is supposed to be 50km here - but some people use it as a racetrack," he said.

"I don't think this particular crash was a result of speeding, but in the past 18 months there have been as least four accidents on this street."

Ipswich Councillor Victor Attwood said as a result of lobbying, the council had already installed speed bumps, splitter islands and roundabouts to reduce speed on the road.

"We also lowered the speed limit from 60km to 50km," he said.

"When this accident occurred I asked senior traffic officials to inspect the site and see if any more could be done to increase traffic safety."

Cr Attwood said a coronial inquest would be undertaken to determine the cause of the crash and Council would consider implementing further traffic calming recommendations.