A FATAL crash on the Birdsville Track has claimed the life of journalist, photographer and author Kelly Theobald.
Shortly after 6.30am on Friday, police and emergency services were called to a single vehicle rollover near Pandie Pandie Station south of Birdsville, just inside the South Australian border.
Birdville’s senior constable Neale McShane said the accident had been discovered by tourists travelling south on the Birdsville Track.
There was no indication of a cause at this stage, he said.
The South Australian accident investigation squad has been to the site and conducted a full investigation.
The 27-year-old grew up in Melbourne but moved to Birdsville in April 2011, where she worked at the Birdsville Hotel and the local Visitor Information Centre.
While there she wrote the children’s book Onslo about a blue Volkswagen Beetle dreaming of adventure in the Simpson Desert.
Senior constable McShane said Kelly had been very well liked in the community.
“She always had a smile for everyone, and really liked Birdsville,” he said.
“The whole town turned out to wave goodbye when the plane carrying her back home to Geelong flew over.”
Kelly’s 28-year-old partner Wade Gilby was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious condition.
