What was meant to be a joyful end to a family camping trip turned into an unimaginable tragedy on July 20, 2025. Shaun Ranger, a devoted father of three, was driving home with two of his children, 7-year-old Baylee and 6-year-old Chandler, when their vehicle was struck head-on along Queensland’s Capricorn Highway. The crash was catastrophic. Their car erupted in flames, killing Shaun, both children, and a family friend named Corey. Only Shaun’s fiancée, Renee Carla Jenkins, and their youngest child, 2-year-old Saphora—who were in a separate car—were spared.
The collision, involving a Toyota Hilux traveling in the opposite direction, left one driver fighting for his life and another hospitalized. The Rockhampton police described the scene as “horrific,” with Inspector Ben Wiltshire stating, “A split second can have lifelong consequences.” For Renee, that consequence is devastating grief. She lost not only her partner, but two of her children in an instant. “My heart has been ripped to shreds,” she told reporters. “I love them so deeply and just want them to come home, but I know they can’t.”
Baylee was remembered as a beaming ray of sunshine, full of warmth and a love for horses, while Chandler was described as sweet, gentle, and full of curiosity about the world. Shaun, by all who knew him, was the kind of father who gave his whole heart to his children. Renee called him “an invested partner and devoted father who would go to the ends of the earth for us.” The family’s deep bond was visible in every shared photo, from hiking adventures to simple moments at sunset.
In the days since, the local community has come together in heartbreak. A candlelight vigil was organized in Blackwater, and a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Renee and little Saphora rebuild what’s left of their world. As authorities continue to investigate the crash, Renee and her daughter face a future shaped by unthinkable loss—but also surrounded by love, remembrance, and the fierce spirit of those they’ve lost.