Charges laid over tragic crash that killed mother Jackie Faulkner

Police have laid charges against a man who they allege was driving a truck that killed a woman travelling to Townsville last year.

Kyana Pike, Cheyarni Pike with their mother Jackie Faulkner. Picture: Supplied.

Charges have been laid over a fatal traffic crash that killed a mother travelling to see her pregnant daughter in Townsville in August of last year.

Jackie Faulkner was killed travelling along the Bruce Highway, after her Mazda Sedan was allegedly struck from behind by a B-double truck.

The crash occurred near Bilanya, south of Tully, when Ms Faulkner had allegedly stopped behind a sugar cane truck that was waiting to turn onto a farm access road at around 1pm.

A 59-year-old Victoria Point man, who police allege was driving the B-double truck at the time of impact has been charged with one count of driving without due care and attention causing death.

Jackie Faulkner tragically passed away in a car accident north of Cardwell. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Faulkner was travelling from Kuranda to be with her daughter, Cheyarni Pike, who is expecting a child in February. In December, Ms Pike spoke to the Courier Mail over the lingering guilt she still felt over the tragic incident.

If I hadn’t asked her to come, I wouldn’t have lost her,” Ms Pike said.

She said said she was devastated by the news of her mother’s death.

“I reached out to my mum for support because I’m so nervous about it,” she said in August of last year.

“Mum was going to help me raise my child and teach me everything.

“She was going to teach me to be a mum as good as she was and now I have to do everything without her.

“My heart is filled with pain, longing for my mum to arrive and be here with me.”

Ms Faulkner’s eldest daughter, Shadi Woodman, said her mother was a ‘very spiritual’ person.

“She always donated her time to service,” Ms Woodman said.

“She was a really good mum and taught us all virtues growing up and to treat others very well.

“In her later years she reconnected with art, she was a big artist, she was always involved in Townsville Cultural Festival.”

Ms Faulkner was one of 299 people killed on Queensland roads in 2022.

Young mother Chaise Boon, a Cardwell woman, was on scene at the accident shortly after it occurred.

“I wanted them (the family) to know that someone was next to her and someone held her hand and someone was with her,” Ms Boon said.

“I stood next to her and held her arm as the ambulance came in.”

He is due to appear in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday, February 13.

Originally published as Charges laid over tragic crash that killed mother Jackie Faulkner