🕊️ She Kissed Her Sons Goodbye Without Knowing It Was Forever — Grieving Husband’s Final Promise Leaves Thousands in Tears
The husband of a woman who died in a head-on crash days before her 40th birthday says the tragedy is “unacceptable” as he grapples with the reality of his wife’s upcoming birthday now being the date for her funeral.
Mother-of-two Elaine Gee, 39, was travelling north along the West Tamar Highway near Legana in Tasmania on Friday afternoon when a blue Skoda crossed into her lane and crashed into her Nissan Navara head-on.
Elaine Gee died in hospital after fighting for life for two days. Picture: GoFundMe
Images of the incident taken by passing drivers show the Skoda sitting in the northbound lane engulfed in flames, with the Navara partially on fire just off to the side of the road.
Investigators say the man driving the Skoda was fleeing the scene of a domestic-violence-related stabbing at the time of the crash. He died at the scene.
“Police believe the man was the perpetrator of a serious wounding incident in Exeter a short time earlier in which a woman known to him sustained serious stab wounds,” police said.
Ms Gee, a nurse from nearby Winkleigh, was rushed to hospital in Launceston with serious injures but died on Sunday night.
Ms Gee was driving north along the West Tamar Highway at the time of the crash. Picture: Google
In a heartbreaking statement posted on social media, Ms Gee’s husband Rod said he “never imagined” he would have to say goodbye to his “best friend and beautiful wife” so early.
“There are no clever words for it. The entire situation is just completely unacceptable, unfair and crap, and this is without question the worst day of our families’ lives,” Mr Gee said.
Footage of the crash shows the Skoda completely engulfed in flames. Picture: 7News
“It is now going to take all of us – family, friends, teachers, the local community and everyone who knew and loved Elaine – to help me make the good boys we have raised together to become the great men she knew they could be.
“Tell them the stories. Remind them who their mum was. Pull them into line when they need it, and stand beside them when life gets hard.
“I can be their dad, but no one can ever replace their mum.”
A fundraiser for the family has raised more than $180,000 in the wake of the incident.
Police said the man who died in the crash was the perpetrator of a violent attack. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Sturzaker
Family friend and fundraiser organiser Lisa Gibson described Ms Gee as a woman who dedicated her life to “caring for people at their most vulnerable”.
“She worked to make our health system move faster and safer for the patients who needed it most,” Ms Gibson said.
“She has left behind a legacy of genuine care and relentless advocacy, and our community is forever better for her commitment to people in need.”
“What was supposed to be Elaine’s 40th birthday will now be her funeral, to say Elaine’s family & friends are devastated beyond words is an understatement.”
The woman who was stabbed by the Skoda driver remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of both women and all those affected by these incidents,” police said in a statement.
