Samantha Macalister: Victim of Port Hedland road train crash identified as Perth mother-of-three

A woman killed in a horror collision with a road train which also left her two young sons injured has been remembered as a “much-loved” and “caring” mother of three. Samantha Macalister was driving home to Perth with her two children — aged four and eight — in the back of their Isuzu D-Max, when tragedy struck on Great Northern Highway south of Port Hedland just before 7pm on Friday. Police said the Isuzu D-Max collided with a Western Star road train about 15km south of the town and the 37-year-old was killed on impact. Ms Macalister’s eight-year-old son suffered a broken arm and stomach wound in the crash while his younger brother escaped serious injuries. The pair were flown to Perth Children’s Hospital, where they remain in a stable condition. Her shocked stepdaughter Georga Mayes said the family had suffered a terrible blow. “She could always make you laugh. She would go out of her way to help others. She was a very caring person and she was always there for anyone that needed her, ” Ms Mayes told The West Australian. “She treated me as one of her own and I’ll forever be grateful for the things she has done for me.” Ms Macalister’s brother Doug told The West Australian his sister was very well-loved. Dozens of other loved ones, grappling with Ms Macalister’s “tragic and sudden passing” left heartfelt tributes online. “I can’t believe you’re gone,” one friend wrote. “So many memories ... I will miss you more than you ever know.” Another friend thanked Ms Macalister for “being there when (she) had no one”. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help bring some of Ms Macalister’s family in the UK to Australia for her funeral. “This sudden loss has caused much grief, especially for her loved ones but mainly the two small sons and daughter she leaves behind,” Jacqueline Ferrie, who created the page, wrote. “We are reaching out and asking for help from people to aid in bringing Sam’s mum and daughter here from the UK so she can be by her son’s and grandsons’ sides at this difficult time. “Any funds that exceed the target will go towards funeral expenses and given to her children.” Major crash officers travelled to the scene of the collision to investigate. Investigators are particularly interested in dash-cam or mobile phone vision relating to this crash or of the car before the incident. Police have urged any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at crimestopperswa.com.au. The tragedy happened within 24 hours of another crash which claimed the life of a 25-year-old man near the South West town of Kalgup. It is understood the car he was in veered off Kalgup Road and smashed into a tree. Two other men, aged in their 20s, were seriously injured while the 25-year-old female driver was also hurt.