‘One of a kind’: Fiance shares tribute for woman killed in e-scooter crash at Lithgow intersection

A woman killed in an e-scooter crash in the Central Tablelands on Friday has been identified as 32-year-old Jessie Van Der Draay.

The NSW woman was riding at the intersection of the Great Western Hwy and Lee St in Lithgow when she collided with a ute about 5.10pm.

Witnesses tried to save Van Der Draay’s life until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and began their own attempts, but the 32-year-old died at the scene, NSW Police said.

The driver of the Isuzu ute involved in the crash, a 44-year-old man, was taken to Lithgow Hospital for mandatory testing.

Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The woman’s fiance Kayla Bunting said in a tribute online, that Van Der Draay had taken on “the big (role) of being a step mum to two girls”.

“Jessie always made sure I and the girls had everything to make us happy because if we were happy she was happy.”

‘One of a kind’

In the GoFundMe fundraising for Van Der Draay’s funeral service, Bunting described her late partner — who worked at a refrigeration and air-conditioning company — as a “woman of many talents”.

“Jessie was and is loved and respected by many people,” Bunting said.

“No matter what she always was there to help anyone who asked, she was always doing something around the house (or multiple things at once).

“There was rarely a time you’d see Jessie without tools in her hands or building something new that she’d thought of.”

“Behind closed doors Jessie was a bit of a kitchen b*tch and made awesome meals for us, and if you just happened to be here at dinner time, Jessie made sure there was enough for you too.

“She was one of a kind, and someone who cannot be replaced.”

She urged those able to donate to Van Der Draay’s funeral fundraiser to “help me raise money so I can show her the farewell she deserves — all donations will go towards Jessie’s service.”

E-scooter concerns fill inquiry

Van Der Draay’s death comes just weeks after a Legislative Council report was published on the use of e-scooters, e-bikes, and related mobility options in Australia, which noted that the huge uptake of e-mobility devices has outpaced legislation.

Road rules regulating the vehicles vary across Australia, due to what the report described as “differing priorities and regulatory frameworks.”

In NSW, riding privately owned e-scooters on public roads and paths is illegal.

But e-scooters rented through shared schemes are currently being trialled in the state.

About one million NSW residents have used an e-scooter.

One submission to the Committee called for point of sale education from retailers to make the rules for personal e-scooter use “unambiguously clear”.

“The rapid growth in e-mobility use has also raised several policy challenges that need to be addressed for its safe and effective use,” the report said.

The NSW Government acknowledged in their submission to the Legislative Committee that there is a “need for a regulatory framework that is continuously monitored and adjusted to reflect the changing needs, preferences and safety concerns of the community.”