Caravan rollover victims plead for financial help
Struggling West Australian family seeks donations after crashing caravan rigA West Australian family that survived a terrifying caravan jack-knife in Western Australia on the week-end have turned to a crowdfunding platform in order to raise enough money to return home.
The family of five from Albany rolled their vintage Viscount caravan near Augusta on Father's Day after attending a funeral, losing control of their vehicle in poor weather conditions.
Craig Smith was driving with his partner Anita Waru-Bridge and three children when the incident occurred.
"The weather was really bad on the way out and we aren't sure what happened but before we knew it we were skidding across the highway and into the side bank of the road," Waru-Bridge explained.
"Luckily our three young children were unharmed apart from being terrified from the accident. My partner (is) extremely sore but for the most part OK. I was taken to hospital (but) again just extremely sore," she said.
"Now I never ask for help usually, but I don't have a choice. Our car is totalled, caravan is totalled and we have no money to get back to Albany let alone getting the car towed back there.
"I won't be able to go to work for the next week or so and this also means we have no income, which means no money for rent, groceries, car payments and everything else."
The tow vehicle and caravan were destroyed in the crash, and Craig Smith told the ABC he couldn't afford insurance after losing his job.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised over a $1000 so far.
A spate of caravan crashes in Western Australia, including another one in Kalbarri this week, prompted a local police warning for caravanners to undertake correct vehicle maintenance and fatigue management to help prevent accidents.
A rise in first-time caravanners has also seen the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) recently offer free caravan safety sessions across Perth and regional Western Australia.
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