shattered

shattered : adj. broken into pieces, splintered, smashed; damaged, harmed; ruined, destroyed, devastated

Amy Gillett, 29, from Buninyong. Died from injuries. Alexis Rhodes,20, From Kersbrook, South Australia. In critical condition with life-threatening injuries. In hospital in Greiz. Louise Yaxley,23,from Penguin, Tasmania. In a serious condition, with major trauma requiring surgery. In hospital in Zwickau.


Amy Gillett's dream was to win gold in next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

But the 29-year-old's aspirations were tragically ended on a country road in southern Germany yesterday, when a local teenage driver lost control of her car, crossing the road and careering head-on into Gillett and five other Australian women cyclists.

Gillett died at the scene. Teammates Alexis Rhodes and Louise Yaxley suffered horrific injuries and were fighting for their lives in German hospitals last night. The other three Australians suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The tragedy has virtually wiped out the Australian women's road cycling program and has left the sport in shock and mourning.

Witnesses described a scene of devastation, with broken bodies and bikes strewn across the road.

Warren McDonald, Australia's national women's cycling coach, was following the riders in the team vehicle when a green Honda Civic careered across the road at high speed and ploughed head-on into the cyclists.


[ Lives and dreams of gold shattered ]