The boss of a woman injured in a horrific crash that killed two people faces a “marathon recovery” and has no idea her best friend died in the crash.
Emma McLean, 23, was driving a silver Mazda sedan through Brisbane’s Legacy Way tunnel at 3.10pm on Wednesday to attend a wedding when her car was hit from behind by a black Audi convertible.
The sedan collided with a truck causing a horrific multi-vehicle crash near the entrance to the main road.
Ms McLean suffered fractured arms and a shattered pelvis and was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition that same night, where she currently remains in an induced coma.
Emma McLean (pictured) suffered broken arms and a shattered pelvis in a horror multi-vehicle crash in Brisbane’s Legacy Way tunnel last Wednesday, leaving her in a critical condition.
Her best friend, Lily Galbraith, 24, who was a passenger in the vehicle, died in the accident.
Former police officer Bruce Daley, 56, who was driving the black Audi, also died, while the truck driver suffered minor injuries.
McLean, who does not know that her best friend died after the terrible accident, will face months of recovery.
His boss Dan O’Rourke, of Screenaway Blinds, a small business in South Australia, said it will take a long time to recover.
“Doctors have warned that his recovery will be a marathon and that he will be in the ICU for quite some time,” he said. 9News.
“There are still multiple operations that need to be planned.”
McLean, who is from Adelaide, had recently gotten engaged to her boyfriend, Harry, after a five-year relationship.
The young couple was making plans for their upcoming wedding.
O’Rourke said McLean was a cheerful character who made everyone around her laugh.
“Emma is the type of person that, when she walks into the room, she cheers up the room, brings a lot of joy to everyone and is just everyone’s friend,” he said.
Her devastated loved ones and colleagues have joined her and her family, while O’Rourke has created a GoFundMe to help cover medical costs.
“Emma faces a long road ahead and we want to do everything we can to help her recover,” O’Rourke wrote.
McLean’s boss Dan O’Rourke (pictured) said his colleague faces a “marathon recovery”.
The horror accident occurred inside the tunnel (pictured), when the black Audio collided with the silver sedan, before the sedan collided with a truck.
So far more than $19,000 has been raised with a goal of $25,000.
Ms Galbraith, originally from the Northern Territory, worked in the intensive care unit at Flinders Private Hospital.
Her heartbroken boyfriend issued a statement after her death and said he was struggling to come to terms with her future.
“You came into my life when I needed you most and made me the happiest man in the world,” wrote Blayde Brummelhuis.
Flinders Private Hospital CEO Janet Jogeneel said in a statement that staff were left devastated following Ms Galbraith’s death.
“Lily will be missed by many people, including those she worked with and for,” he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Flinders Private Hospital for further comment.
Lily Galbraith, 24 (pictured), who was traveling inside the silver Mazda, died in the horrific crash.
The driver of the black Audi convertible Bruce Daley, 56 (pictured), also died at the scene following the collision.
Witnesses reported seeing Bruce Daley stop his black Audi convertible at the entrance to the tunnel, rev the engine and then take off at speeds of up to 200 km/h shortly before the accident.
Daley had retired from the Queensland Police Service on medical grounds in 2014.
He had mentioned his mental health problems in worrying online posts that included references to loneliness and suicide.
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