Parents-to-be Katherine Jane Leadbetter and her partner Matthew Philip Field died when they were struck by the car, allegedly being driven by a teenager inside a stolen 4WD.
He’s since been charged with two counts of murder.
Ms Leadbetter, 31, and Mr Field, 37, were hit by the Landcruiser 4WD as it sped through a red light at Finucane Road and Vienna Road in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
Ms Leadbetter, an interior stylist, was six months pregnant at the time of the crash.
One of the couple’s dogs, Frankie, went missing after the crash and was found in bushland on Wednesday. She has been taken to the vet.
The couple’s other dog is in the care of family.
Overnight, members of the Alexandra Hills community came together to hold a candlelight vigil to pay their respects to the couple and their unborn child.
Flowers, toys, cards and candles have been placed at the site where the tragedy occurred, with the number of tributes steadily growing.
Locals say the victims “could have been anybody”.
“She’s a mother and when you’re a mother you just feel that she would have been really, really scared for her baby and we’re just really upset,” one resident told 9News.
“I drive this intersection on a daily basis, my daughter does too, it hits home that…you know, road safety is really important,” another said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also paid tribute to the three lives lost.
“My heart breaks for the families and friends,” Mr Morrison said in a statement.
“These beautiful young lives gone in the blink of an eye. I cannot begin to imagine the grief their families are feeling.”
A 17-year-old boy briefly faced court in Brisbane yesterday charged with the couple’s murder.
Police allege he was driving a stolen Landcruiser 4WD when he went through a red light and ploughed into a truck at Alexandra Hills.
It’s alleged the 4WD was stolen between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday from a Cleveland house, prior to the deadly rampage.
Moments earlier, the 4WD was filmed appearing to engage in a road rage attack, deliberately colliding with a silver Hyundai at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane Roads before speeding away.
About 15 minutes later, he allegedly lost control of the 4WD after speeding through the red light at Finucane Road and Vienna Road and collided with the truck.
The Landcruiser rolled and struck the Alexandra Hills couple as they crossed the road.
“Despite the incredible efforts of witnesses and emergency services both pedestrians died at the scene,” Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said.
“The terrible tragedy has resulted in two, potentially three innocent lives being lost.”
Mr Codd said witnesses and first responders are receiving support for the “incredibly catastrophic scene”.
“We heard this terrific noise and we thought someone’s had an accident,” a witness told 9News.
“We thought it could have been us, we walk here often enough.”
Police have also called on anyone who may have dashcam footage to contact police.
“Can I appeal to people to recognise that even the smallest piece of information could be vital in us building a case and understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic circumstance,” Mr Codd said.
He said the families of the two victims are “devastated” by the incident and expressed his sympathies to those involved.
“Here’s two people going about their innocent businesses on Australia Day, walking their dogs. They should be entitled to do that and now to have them ripped away from their families is absolutely tragic and it will weigh very, very heavily on first responders and witnesses. It shouldn’t happen.”
After crashing the car, police allege the 17-year-old then stole a set of keys from a nearby property and attempted to start a car in the garage.
He fled when approached by the owner of the home before being arrested by police a short time later, police allege.
He was taken to hospital for soft tissue injuries before being detained.
The boy has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of dangerous driving while intoxicated, two counts of burglary, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Police said additional charges may be laid as investigations continue and have urged anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward.
