Second Australian teen dies in tainted alcohol case in Laos that has killed 6 tourists

VANG VIENG, Laos (AP) — A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.

Holly Bowles, 19, had been in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.

“We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace," her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. “We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”

An officer at Vang Vieng's Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday that a “number of people” had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.

Tourist police offices are common in Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners.

The U.S. State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks," following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved.

Australia's prime minister announced Thursday that a 19-year-old citizen, Bianca Jones, had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend — Bowles — remained in a hospital "fighting for her life."

A 28-year-old British woman, Simone White, also died in the suspected poisoning, the British Foreign Office said.

An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released.

New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was sickened in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning.

White’s family said they were “devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone,” who had “the most wonderful energy and spark for life.”

“Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy,” the family said in a statement issued by law firm Squire Patton Boggs, where White worked as a lawyer.

Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details.

The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the town's health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.

Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident.

“I think it’s never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident," said Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. "It’s very sad all around. I’m sure nobody intended to cause injury, but it’s happened.”

The two 19-year-old Australian women who have both now died fell ill on Nov. 13 following a night out drinking with a group.

They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.”

Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning.

Rising reported from Bangkok. Jill Lawless in London contributed.

A doctor comes out of the hospital where poisoned foreign tourists were admitted in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman cleans near the emergency section of a hospital where poisoned foreign tourists admitted in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials leave Nana Backpackers hostel after investigation in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

The Nana Backpackers hostel wearing a deserted look in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A foreign tourist rests near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A foreign tourist couple rest near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman with a bicycle walks pasts Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

The empty bar of Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A man walks past the tourism control police station in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Tourists ride on a motorbike near the tourism control police station in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials check documents and ask questions to Nana hostel employees in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Health officials come out of Nana Backpackers hostel after checking documents in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This photo shows the exterior of Bangkok Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin will have a new crew chief in 2025.

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday that Chris Gayle will serve as the crew chief for Hamlin’s No. 11 team, with Chris Gabehart being promoted to competition director. Gayle has served as crew chief for JGR's No. 54 team for the past two seasons.

The new crew chief for the No. 54 team will be announced at a later date.

Both Gabehart and Gayle have been mainstays at JGR for a number of years, and both led their teams to the Cup Series Playoffs and top-15 finishes in the overall point standings.

“We have a lot of pride in the depth of talent we have throughout our organization,” JGR owner and founder Joe Gibbs said. “Chris Gabehart will now be an asset across all four of our teams as competition director and we thought it was important to have him transition into his new role immediately. Chris Gayle will bring his own perspective to the 11 team while also maintaining the consistency and continuity they have developed with Denny (Hamlin) over the past several years."

Gayle has won two Cup Series races, 37 Xfinity Series wins and the 2022 Xfinity Series championship since joining JGR as an engineer in 2003.

Gayle moved into a crew chief position in 2013 with JGR’s Xfinity Series team. In four seasons, his teams won 20 races. He spent 2017 as a crew chief for Furniture Row Racing before rejoining JGR in 2018 in the Cup Series with Erik Jones. He led the young driver to his first career win in 2018 and followed that up with a Southern 500 victory in 2019.

Gayle guided JGR’s No. 54 Xfinity Series team and won 10 races with four different drivers.

Gayle also led Ty Gibbs to seven victories and the series championship before they moved to the Cup Series in 2023. Last season, Gayle oversaw the No. 54 team’s growth in Gibbs’ second season, earning eight top-five finishes, 12 top-10s and two pole awards while leading 417 laps.

“Denny is obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Gayle said. “I’m looking forward to working with him and the guys on the No. 11 team. He and Gabehart have established an incredible culture that is a very good barometer for our other drivers and teams to strive to match. I have all the confidence in the world we can hit the ground running and continue the success that this group is accustomed to in 2025.”

Gabehart joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012 as a race engineer before transitioning to crew chief with the team’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program from 2016-18.

He spent three seasons there, earning nine victories with multiple drivers.

Gabehart was promoted to be the crew chief of the No. 11 team in 2019. The Hamlin-Gabehart combination proved to be a threat immediately by winning the 2019 Daytona 500 on the way to three consecutive Championship 4 appearances. Gabehart and Hamlin won 22 races in six years, including two Daytona 500s.

“I am very thankful for the opportunities that Joe Gibbs Racing has continued to provide me for my entire tenure here and cannot say enough about how much I have enjoyed and appreciated my time with Denny and the entire 11 team,” Gabehart said. “They have all taught me so much about not only how to race at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series, but also, how to lead a great group of talented professionals. In my next opportunity, I am as excited as I have ever been to work with all our talented drivers, crew chiefs, teams and partners to help focus all our efforts towards making 2025 one of the best seasons Joe Gibbs Racing has ever had.”

RFK Racing announced that veteran crew chief Jeremy Bullins has joined the organization, reuniting with driver/co-owner Brad Keselowski to lead the No. 6 team beginning in 2025.

Bullins, who has been a part of 31 wins, joins RFK after a decade-plus stint in the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske, working with drivers Ryan Blaney, Keselowski, Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with BK again, this time in the iconic No. 6 car with RFK,” Bullins said. “We were able to accomplish a lot as a team previously, but we had a couple of unfinished goals like a Daytona 500 win and a championship together and I’m ecstatic we get the opportunity to compete together again."

He most recently led the No. 21 team, earning the organization’s famed 100th victory at Daytona this summer.

Previously, he was paired with Cindric and the No. 2 team, which came on the heels of Keselowski’s departure from Team Penske at the end of the 2021 campaign. Together, Bullins and Keselowski finished second in the 2020 points standings, and won five races in the Cup Series in the 2020-21 seasons.

The 23XI Racing team will have three Cup Series cars in 2025.

It’s newest driver will be Riley Herbst, who recently concluded the Xfinity Series season driving the No. 98 car. Herbst will drive the No. 35 Toyota Camry for the team co-owned by Michael Jordan.

Herbst joins veteran teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick in the 23XI racing stable.

Herbst has 175 starts in the Xfinity Series since 2018 with three career wins and playoff appearances in four of his five full-time seasons. His first career win came in the fall race last season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his home track.

“Having worked with Riley in the past, we have watched his growth over the last several seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Tyler Gibbs, general manager of Toyota Racing Development. “We look forward to Riley rejoining the Toyota family and supporting him to achieve his goals next year and into the future.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Denny Hamlin is introduced before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Aug. 18, 2024, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)