Three teenagers’ day at the beach has ended in tragedy after a crash claimed the life of a 17-year-old Erskine girl and left two 16-year-olds in Royal Perth Hospital.
About 12.30pm on December 18, Kimberley Berente was driving back from the Bouvard coast along White Hill Road when she lost control of her blue Subaru Outback.
The 17-year-old reportedly died at the scene and her friends sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The crash came just hours after Kimberley had been handed her driver’s licence.
Major Crash officers were at the scene on Tuesday afternoon, to investigate the cause of the incident.
It is believed the car rolled several times before stopping in shrub along the south side of the road.
The section of White Hill Road where the crash occurred is unsealed, with loose white gravel and potholes.
With less than a week until Christmas, the crash has devastated Mandurah’s southern community.
Several of Kimberley’s close friends took to social media to pay tribute to the local teen.
A “hilarious, beautiful, loving and a caring person” was how Kimberley’s friends described her.
“You never know what it feels like to lose your best friend until you actually have lost them,” close friend Sarah Eastland wrote on Facebook.
“I feel so much pain and sadness.
“You were such a beautiful person and you always lit up my day. You had such a life to live and it’s a shame you were taken this early, it’s not fair.”
You had such a life to live and it’s a shame you were taken this early, it’s not fair.
Helena Mathews described the 17-year-old as the “greatest gift”.
“You will always be in my heart you precious precious soul,” Helena wrote.
“Devastating news. Such a kind beautiful young girl taken too soon. Rest in peace,” friend Charlie Blee wrote.
“Talented”, “smart and so determined” was how Paris-Jade Lemondine described Kimberley.
“Anything she set her mind to she did and got done. All of our memories are precious and I will treasure them forever,” she said.
“I love you so much darling, we all do and we always will. Never will you be forgotten or lost in our minds. Rest in piece my darling, fly high the angels have you now.”
On Wednesday, friends of Kimberley travelled to the scene to lay flowers on a nearby shrub.
Police closed White Hill Road in both directions on Tuesday afternoon, while crews from the Falcon Volunteer Fire Rescue and Mandurah Career Fire Rescue Service worked together to pull the teenager from the wreckage.
Two St John’s Ambulance crews were also at the scene treating the two 16-year-olds, while police interviewed bystanders.
