Karina Abel: Warwick crash victim was ‘ecstatic’ to get married before tragedy struck

A woman who died alongside her pet dog after her car hit a bus on Monday was on the way to visit her elderly mother living with dementia.

Karina Abel, 50, was driving a white Hyundai i30 hatchback when it hit a Transperth bus carrying schoolchildren on Warwick Road, in Warwick, around 8am.

Police say the Hyundai caught fire before Ms Abel was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital with critical injuries. She died a short time later.

Loved ones mourning her death have since revealed Ms Abel was due to get married in Bali this year.

“Karina was one of the kindest people with the biggest hearts, she loved everyone with her absolute everything ... especially my dad,” the daughter of Ms Abel’s fiance, Tahlia Oreo, 20, said.

“One of my fondest memories of her is when she finally broke the news that she and Dad were engaged.”

“I’ll never forget the smile on her face as she told me, I was ecstatic for them, I would’ve been so proud to call her my stepmother.”

Ms Abel had moved from Geraldton with her fiance, Brad Oreo, to be closer to her elderly mother, who lives with dementia.

She was travelling to see her elderly mother on Monday before tragedy struck.

“Karina left my dad’s that morning to see her mum ... family was what mattered most to Karina,” Ms Oreo said.

The crash also claimed the life of one of the couple’s pet dogs, Storm.

Two of Ms Abel’s other dogs — named Diesel and Karma — ran from the car before they were safely located by rangers.

“She loved her dogs like they were her own children,” Ms Oreo said.

“Every post or photo she’d send me would be them at the beach, a walk, or even just lounging around the house, her camera roll was just her dogs and my dad.”

Witnesses told media one of the distressed dogs had bitten a Good Samaritan who tried to help Ms Abel at the scene.

Less than 24 hours before the fatal incident Ms Abel posted a video to social media on Sunday of her enjoying the outdoors at Elizabeth Quay.

On Monday afternoon, police confirmed the 48-year-old driver of the bus was uninjured. A teenage passenger suffered minor injuries and was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital.

It is understood there were about 30 passengers, including school-aged students, on the bus at the time of the crash.

Major crash investigators are continuing their investigation into the incident and urge anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward.

Road Trauma Support: 1300 004 814