16-year-old Taylor Swift fan killed in car collision en route to concert in Australia

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16: Taylor Swift fans, also known as “Swifties” take a photo of their tickets purchased for the show at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Taylor Swift’s global Eras Tour has been a cultural and economic phenomenon, breaking records and generating billions of dollars in revenue. With its massive scale and fan frenzy, the tour has cemented Swift’s status as one of the most influential pop stars of the 21st century, and its impact is likely to be felt for years to come. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

A 16-year-old Taylor Swift fan was killed in a head-on collision with a semitrailer on her way to the singer’s concert in Melbourne on Thursday.

Mieka Pokarier, and her younger sister Freya Pokarier, 10, were being driven to the concert by their mother, Kim Litchfield, from the Gold Coast when their car collided with a semitrailer in New South Whales at around 6 p.m., The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Mieka, who sat in the front passenger seat, died at the scene, and her sister Freya, who was sitting in the back, was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in critical condition, 7 News Australia reported.

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As of Sunday, Freya remained in an induced coma with swelling on her brain and organ damage, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family. She also has a broken leg and a suspected shoulder fracture.

Litchfield was treated by paramedics at the scene of the crash and then taken to Dubbo Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the semitrailer was taken to the same hospital in stable condition, 7 News Australia reported.

The family was on an 11-day road trip with plans to see Swift perform in both Sydney and Melbourne, Karleigh Fox, the girls’ godmother, told the Morning Herald.

A ‘vivacious’ and thoughtful sister

Fox told the Morning Herald that Mieka was “vivacious and very cheeky.”

“She just had this sparkle in her eye. And it sounds really cliched, but she was just a really beautiful person who was very thoughtful,” she said.

Meika had a close relationship with her siblings and would make friendship bracelets for her loved ones, Fox told the outlet.

“When they heard Taylor Swift was touring, it was all that (Mieka and Freya) could talk about. They had five family members online, refreshing pages for up to eight hours to get tickets,” Fox said.

Family at 10-year-old’s bedside

Fox said Litchfield has reunited with her youngest daughter at the hospital along with other family members.

“It’s just the worst situation you can imagine. It’s frightening to think how quickly your entire life can change and how trivial everything else seems now,” Fox said.

Swift has been performing across Australia as part of her Eras Tour. Her show at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds stadium was packed with more than 96,000 fans.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 16-year-old Taylor Swift fan killed in car collision en route to concert in Australia