The heartbroken family of a young German tourist who was killed in a horror bus crash in Australia are seeking answers over her death as they struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.
Aliya Tonga, 21, was travelling on a Greyhound bus when it collided with a car towing a caravan on the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, in Queensland‘s Whitsundays region, on June 30.
Ms Tonga and two other women – Emma ‘Alli’ Sailor, 56, from Townsville and another German national, aged in her 30s – died at the scene while 27 others onboard were injured.
The driver of the north-bound bus, which was travelling from Brisbane to Townsville with 33 passengers, and the elderly couple in the four-wheel drive all miraculously escaped with minor injuries.
Ms Tonga’s body was repatriated back to Germany, where she was laid to rest in her hometown of Wesel on July 18.
Just days after the crash, her cousin flew to Australia on behalf of the family in a bid to find out more about the circumstances surrounding Ms Tonga’s death.
Now, the family are hoping to speak to people who were involved in the bus crash or witnessed the accident who may be able to answer their questions as they seek closure.
‘I was in Australia seven years ago with a working holiday visa. Three and a half weeks ago, I returned, but for a different reason,’ Ms Tonga’s cousin Dilan Gungor wrote on Facebook.
Aliya Tonga, 21, (pictured) was killed in a bus crash last month while travelling around Australia
The crumpled remains of a caravan were left embedded in the front of the Greyhound bus in the wake of the crash (pictured)
‘Her parents have endless questions…
‘My question is whether there might be anyone here who was possibly unscathed or who knows any of the 33 passengers of the bus and might be able to answer some questions.’
Ms Tonga’s uncle Haki Baba also posted online, urging anyone who may have information to come forward.
‘We can’t do much from Germany.. I would like your help,’ he wrote.
‘Please get in touch.’
While detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, police have said the bus allegedly veered into the wrong lane of traffic.
The driver of the car has been praised as a ‘hero’ for his quick-thinking actions on the road, which witnesses say saved other lives.
Earlier this month, US tourist Piezy Marie, who was travelling on the bus, revealed she had a l ast-minute seat change – which likely saved her life.
‘The driver upon checking my ticket looked at me and said, “I remember you”,’ Ms Marie said.
Ms Tonga was farewelled at a ceremony in Wesel, Germany (pictured) earlier this month
She just smiled and nodded and the driver switched her from her assigned seat of 1C – which was behind him – to the 2A window seat in the second row across the aisle.
‘The passengers who took my original seat were badly hurt and eventually died,’ Ms Marie said.
Ms Marie said the impact with the caravan ‘felt like the blow of a cannon’, with glass flying all around.
‘I heard loud screams and bawling from passengers. It felt like the bus was moving up and down in a slow motion until it landed past the railroad track,’ she said.
Ms Marie said from now on she would always remember that a person’s life could end in a split second and to ‘live for each second without hesitation’.
‘I’m not very religious but I think the gentleman upstairs is looking out for me so I can continue teaching my kids and to tell my stories,’ she said.
‘I am protected, blessed and I am grateful to him and to my ancestors.’
The Bruce Highway stretches more than 1,670km from Brisbane to Cairns and is a major transportation corridor for freight, local communities and other motorists.
For years, the road has been plagued with safety concerns, congestion, flooding and funding issues and has claimed hundreds of lives.
It is the most dangerous road in Australia and responsible for one in six of all traffic accidents across the whole country.
