Cooloongup tragedy: Friends Lauren Prothero and Paige Ward, killed when a Landcruiser collided with their car on Friday, had brilliant futures ahead

The father of one of two young women killed when a 4WD smashed into their car said his daughter had been robbed of a “brilliant future”. Lauren Prothero and her close friend Paige Ward, both aged 27, died when a Landcruiser collided with the Nissan Micra she was driving in Cooloongup about 7.40pm on Friday. Ms Ward died at the scene. Ms Prothero was taken to Rockingham hospital but died a short time later. The driver of the Landcruiser, a man in his 50s, walked away from the crash but was later arrested. His passenger, believed to have escaped injury, fled the scene. Tonight the driver is in custody and being questioned by police. Police said it appeared Ms Prothero had the green light and was turning when the 4WD ploughed into her car. They were just 800 metres from Ms Ward’s Cooloongup home where she lived with her new husband. Ms Ward had only been married in January, with Ms Prothero helping her celebrate the occasion. Ms Prothero’s grief-stricken father, John, who bravely visited the crash site today, said he could not understand how a young woman with such a sparkling future ahead of her could be ripped away so suddenly. He said she had looked “very peaceful” as he said his goodbyes. “But I just couldn’t get over how such a brilliant person could be taken away from us,” he said. “She had a brilliant future. In her work she was senior physio down here at the hospital and she had a wonderful boyfriend. “They were just about to get together and live together. He’s a smashing guy, so what a future they had together — that’s been taken away from us and I just don’t know how it could happen. It’s just surreal.” Mr Prothero said Lauren, whose home was in Success, had lived in Rockingham for most of her early life and attended school at Kolbe Catholic College. He said he hoped Lauren’s old school friends would remember who he was when they saw him in future. “They might bump into me and it would be like bumping into a part of my daughter, and that would be just unbelievable,” he said. Friends today posted pictures on Facebook of the two best mates together at a hen’s party for Ms Ward, who kept her maiden name after her marriage. The Cooloongup resident embarked on a new chapter in her life early this year, marrying Jacob Dodds in a dream wedding they had spent two and a half years saving up for. Their January wedding came close to being called off at the last minute when a bushfire broke out close to their Baldivis venue. But the incident management team from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services stepped in and helped put a plan in place so they could safely tie the knot, including provisions to evacuate the 100 guests if needed. Other family and friends of the victims visited the crash site today to lay flowers, standing in silent tribute. Rockingham Peel Group executive director Kath Smith said Ms Prothero had been “a much loved and respected member” of the allied health team at Rockingham General Hospital for about two years and it was “a devastating loss”. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Lauren's family and friends,” she said. “We will be providing all of the support we can to Lauren's colleagues and our staff.” Police are also investigating a crash that killed a 21-year-old man after he lost control of a ute on a dirt track near Geraldton about 12.40am on Thursday. His 20-year-old male passenger received minor injuries.