What started as a joyful family camping trip ended in heartbreak when a tragic head-on crash on Queensland’s Capricorn Highway claimed the lives of a father and his two young children. On July 20, 2025, 38-year-old Shaun Ranger and his children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, died instantly when their vehicle was struck by an oncoming Toyota Hilux near Blackwater, Australia. Another adult passenger, Corey, also perished. The family had been returning home from a weekend getaway. Thankfully, Shaun’s fiancée Renee Carla Jenkins and their youngest child, 2-year-old Saphora, had traveled separately — a decision that spared their lives but left them to carry the weight of unimaginable grief.
The force of the impact caused both vehicles to erupt into flames, leaving the crash site strewn with devastation. Police described the victims’ injuries as “horrific.” Two men from the Toyota Hilux — ages 27 and 28 — survived the crash but remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Rockhampton Police Inspector Ben Wiltshire called the crash a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be lost. “A split second can have lifelong consequences,” he said. As news of the tragedy spread, friends, family, and community members rallied around Renee, who described her heartbreak as having her soul “ripped to shreds.”
Renee paid tribute to her loved ones with emotional words, calling Shaun a “devoted father” and “invested partner,” while describing Baylee as a “ray of sunshine” and Chandler as “gentle and loving.” Her raw grief resonated across social media, where she invited the community to attend a candlelight vigil in Blackwater. Family friend Chantel Semple created a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and ongoing support for Renee and Saphora, writing that Shaun, Baylee, and Chandler “brought so much joy and light into our lives.”
This heartbreaking incident is one of several fatal crashes in Queensland that weekend, which saw ten road deaths in total. As police continue their investigation, no criminal charges have yet been filed. But for Renee and little Saphora, life will never be the same. What was meant to be a weekend of family memories instead became the moment everything changed. The pain may never fully fade, but the legacy of love that Shaun, Baylee, and Chandler left behind will continue to shine through those who knew them.