Two years after the Legacy Way tunnel crash that claimed the life of her best friend, Lily Galbraith, and left her with a traumatic brain injury, Adelaide woman Emma McLean is speaking publicly for the first time about the lasting impact of the tragedy and her ongoing battle for compensation to support her recovery.

At just 23 years old, Ms McLean was driving through the tunnel on 1 May 2024 when her vehicle was struck from behind by another car. The crash left Ms McLean fighting for her life and suffering catastrophic injuries including a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, internal injuries and severe burns.

The injuries included a laceration to Ms McLean’s right ovary, which has affected her fertility and created uncertainty around her ability to have children – a devastating consequence for Ms McLean and her now husband, Harry, who she had become engaged to just three weeks before the crash. 

“Sharing personal details about my life and the injuries I sustained is incredibly difficult, but I am doing so because road safety matters and I want to raise awareness of the impact road trauma can have,” Ms McLean said.

“The Coroner’s findings state the other vehicle was travelling at 192 km/h just prior to impact. At that speed, the consequences are devastating and lifelong, not only for those injured, but also for their families and friends.

“I lost my best friend and the future I once imagined for myself. It has been unbearable. Harry and I married last year but we have been forced to change our goals, and many of the dreams we once shared will never become a reality. 

“I continue to come to terms with my traumatic brain injury, aphasia. It is a lifelong disability that has changed almost every aspect of my life. Reading, writing and even speaking can be incredibly difficult and require great concentration. I struggle with everyday activities that I once enjoyed, including reading and cooking.

“Before the crash, I loved road trips, camping and spending time outdoors. Now I struggle with driving, avoid tunnels, and often avoid swimming or situations where I feel exposed because of the scars and burn injuries on my body.

“The crash lasted only moments, but its consequences will stay with me forever. I live with the physical scars every day and the devastating loss of my best friend – a loss that I will carry for the rest of my life.

“No amount of compensation can bring Lily back or restore the life I had before the crash. What I hope for now is a resolution that allows me to move forward and continue my journey of healing. Every day brings great challenges that I never expected to face, but I am determined to build the best life I can despite them. I want to honour Lily’s memory by living a life she would be proud of.”

While RACQ, the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurer of the driver responsible for the collision, admitted liability for the crash in October 2024, Ms McLean’s compensation claim remains unresolved 20 months later^[1], with Supreme Court proceedings now commenced by her lawyers, Travis Schultz & Partners, after the matter could not be resolved through the pre-court claims process.

Travis Schultz OAM said road trauma can have lifelong physical, emotional and financial impacts, with more Queenslanders and their families facing the devastating consequences of serious injury each year.

“With more Queenslanders being seriously injured on our road each year, timely resolution of compensation claims has never been more important. For those people, timely compensation provides greater financial certainty, allowing them to focus on their recovery, rehabilitation and rebuilding their lives,” Mr Schultz said.

“Too often, injured motorists find themselves in lengthy compensation processes. Sadly, we are seeing claims generally taking longer to finalise due largely to the claims management approach of the insurers. For people like Emma, that can mean years of waiting when they should be focused on their recovery and getting their lives back on track.

“While no scheme is perfect, Queensland remains fortunate to have one of Australia’s strongest Compulsory Third Party (CTP) schemes, with affordable premiums and full common law access for injured motorists, without many of the caps and thresholds imposed in other states.”

The Statement of Claim was filed in the Brisbane Registry of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 27 May 2026 and names the Estate of Bruce Herbert Frederick Daley and RACQ Insurance Limited as defendants. RACQ Insurance Limited filed a Notice of Intention to Defend on 24 June 2026.

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^[1] Source: Statement of Claim, McLean v Daley & RACQ Insurance Limited, page 3, paragraph 10: “By correspondence dated 24 October 2024, written pursuant to section 41(1)(b) of the Act, the Second Defendant on behalf of the First and Second Defendants admitted liability, in full, for the circumstances of the Accident.”