CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY
Heartbreak as dad, 55, and ex-rugby player killed on Christmas Day after car ploughed into his house
A DAD was killed on Christmas day after a car ploughed into his house.
The 55-year-old was struck during the horrific incident in Millerman, Queensland, on Sunday night.
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Police identified the man as Russell Klein, who was a much-loved local in the southern Queensland town.
Pictures from the man's past life, showed him smiling in his rugby league kit, celebrating a win with a relative.
The holiday tragedy unfolded at about 9.30pm local time, after a car crashed through his residential property.
Police say the driver, 30, fled the scene, but was later arrested.
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A statement made my Queensland police read: "Police allege the 30-year-old man deliberately drove into the 55-year-old man at an address on Commens Street.
"Police located the 30-year-old man at a nearby park a short time later and he was taken into custody."
The driver was charged with one count of alleged murder, alleged unlawful possession of a weapon, alleged possession of drug utensils, alleged authority required to possess explosives and alleged driving a motor vehicle without a driver's licence.
The man will appear before Toowoomba Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
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According to The Chronicle, members of the community were left heartbroken following Mr Klein's death.
Maureen Saunders, his neighbour, said he would be remembered as a local legend.
She said: "He was such a lovely person, he would do anything for you and give you the shirt off his back.
"I used to get him a Mitre 10 gift card for Christmas each year to say thank you for doing my nature strip but I didn’t get to give it to him this year."
Mr Klein was a prominent member of the Toowoomba region’s rugby league community.
He played for the Millmerran Rams, Inglewood Roosters and the Pittsworth Danes.
In 2018, Queensland Rugby League interviewed him after he decided to lace up his boots alongside his sons in an amatuer competition.
At the time, he said: "How many blokes get the chance to play footy with their two sons.
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"It’s the best thing you can do.
"That’s what memories are about... Go out with your family and have a laugh and a good time, put some shots on in defence and cop a few back."
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