It promised to be a weekend of celebrations, but a split second turned it into tragedy.
Glen Innes Jockey Club president Andrew Futter was killed in a car accident on his 54th birthday on Friday, while travelling to Brisbane to watch a horse he co-owned run the next day in a race it would go on to win.
Mr Futter, a former Commonwealth Games clay target shooter and cattle grazier, died after his Ford Falcon, being driven by his friend Leonie Hawkins, was hit by a silver BMW 4WD about 10km north of Tenterfield, just after 5pm on Friday.
While police are still investigating the incident, it is thought the BMW veered onto the wrong side of a straight stretch of road.
Warned by Mr Futter to watch out for the vehicle, Ms Hawkins swerved to the right, but the passenger side of the vehicle was struck, killing Mr Futter.
Ms Hawkins was comforted at the scene by travellers and taken to Tenterfield Hospital where she was treated for shock and a broken ankle before being released on Saturday morning.
A Sydney woman passenger in the other vehicle suffered a broken leg, while her husband who was driving, and their young baby, escaped unharmed. The highway was closed for about 10 hours.
Inspector George McGilvray said police were unable to confirm speculation the driver of the BMW had fallen asleep at the wheel. Police crash investigators from Tamworth were continuing their inquiries on Monday.
“Once an analysis of the accident has been done, a report will be prepared for the coroner, and after that, action against the other driver will be taken as appropriate,” Inspector George McGilvray said.
Ms Hawkins said Mr Futter was “so happy” on Friday, in anticipation of another win for his sprinter Dealers, just as the couple had witnessed at Eagle Farm a fortnight before.
“It was going to be a wonderful weekend, he was so looking forward to the race and we were going to have dinner with family and friends the next night,” an emotional Ms Hawkins said.
“We were only together for six months - six wonderful months. But we always told each other how we felt, so there was nothing left unsaid.”
“He was such a special person - a real old fashioned gentleman who saw the good in everybody,” she said.
Mr Futter shared his love of horses with Ms Hawkins, whom he first met at Relay for Life three years ago, and also taught to shoot.
“He told me he always wanted a horse that would win at the Metropolitans, and at Grafton, a horse that would race in the Cuninghame family colours.”
Ms Hawkins paid tribute to a woman from Ballandean who was amongst the first to arrive at the accident.
“She rang her husband to come and collect the three children who were in the car. She stayed with me for five hours, at the hospital, during the police interview, until my brother Graham arrived from Tamworth. She was an angel. The staff at Tenterfield hospital were also wonderful, especially Michael Moore.”
Mr Futter will be cremated at a private family service. A celebration of his life will be held at the Glen Innes Racecourse on a date to be fixed.
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