Family learns of tragedy on the net

By Nick Ralston
Updated November 6 2012 - 3:15am, first published January 25 2012 - 10:28am
Donald and Patricia Logan, who died with son Calvyn in Tuesday's crash on the Hume Hwy. Picture: JONATHAN NG
Donald and Patricia Logan, who died with son Calvyn in Tuesday's crash on the Hume Hwy. Picture: JONATHAN NG

When his elderly parents and brother were late for their visit, Gary Logan began to worry. He sent text messages and heard nothing back.That worry turned to panic when he logged onto smh.com.au and saw images of a red Ford Mondeo, similar to his brother’s, flattened by a truck in a crash on the Hume Hwy near Menangle.He went to a police station at Campbelltown and his worst fears were realised. His parents, Donald and Patricia Logan, and his younger brother, Calvyn, had been killed in the crash at 11.25am on Tuesday.The three had been returning from Canberra after visiting Patricia and Donald’s great-granddaughter, who had been born premature on Boxing Day, when the semitrailer crossed onto the wrong side and collided with their car.Calvyn’s son, Robert Logan, yesterday said the family were devastated by the loss after just recently celebrating Olivia’s birth and Donald and Patricia’s 60th wedding anniversary.‘‘My grandparents and my dad were greatly respected in the community and loved by everyone,’’ Robert Logan said. ‘‘They were devoted to their family and to their strong faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses.’’ All three lived in Forster on the Mid-North Coast. Donald and Patricia had moved there 12 years ago after living and working in Sydney and Calvyn had recently retired as a teacher in Canberra to care full-time for his father, who had developed Parkinson’s disease.The couple remained active as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and elder congressman David Wilson said Donald Logan had been responsible for building 200 Kingdom Halls across NSW in weekend projects.‘‘They were really well loved,’’ he said. ‘‘I know you hear this when people die but they really were.’’Police yesterday re-interviewed the 33-year-old truck driver involved in the incident. The Sandy Point man, who was not seriously hurt in the crash, has told police a learner driver pulled out in front of him, forcing him to veer across a grass embankment, through a guard rail and onto the other side of the road.A learner-driver in the area at the time of the crash and her father yesterday came forward to police. Police last night said the 18-year-old female had been cleared in their investigation. It would still be some time before the truck driver’s blood and alcohol test results, taken after the crash, would be available.The Logan family yesterday appealed for anyone who might have been in the vicinity to come forward to help police with their inquiries.

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