75 crashes in three years at M4 black spot where Irish tradie Francis Shanley killed
A driver who allegedly left the scene of the fatal crash on the M4 has been charged. This comes as the fiancee of the Irish tradie who died in the horror pileup paid tribute to her “lucky charm Irish boy”, as it’s been revealed there have been more than 75 crashes near the notorious black spot over the past three years.
NSW
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A driver who allegedly left the scene of the fatal crash on the M4 has been charged.
Francis Shanley, 36, was killed when eight cars and a truck collided just before 6am on Thursday.
Witnesses told police the driver of a Toyota Echo allegedly left the scene after the incident.
A 53-year-old man from Ropes Crossing was arrested on Friday night. Police will allege he changed lanes on the M4 and then stopped, with multiple collisions occurring as a consequence.
The driver has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, fail to stop and two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct. He will appear in court on Saturday.
My lucky charm Irish boy
The fiancee of an Irish tradie who died in a horror pileup on the M4 has paid tribute to her “lucky charm Irish boy”, as it’s been revealed there have been more than 75 crashes near the notorious black spot over the past three years.
Francis Shanley, 36, who moved to Australia 10 years ago, was on his way to work on Thursday when his ute and another car were hit by a truck carrying beer kegs while eight other vehicles ploughed into each other in the middle lane.
The incident occurred near the busy Church St exit, which is the last place drivers can leave the motorway before tolls apply.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said on Friday night he had asked Roads and Maritime Services to fast-track the planned improvements to the notorious exit, which includes extending the existing left turn lane and provide an additional right turn lane to reduce traffic queues on the M4.
Data from the NSW Centre for Road Safety and Transport shows that there were 42 crashes on the eastbound carriageway of the M4, between the Burnett St and Church St overpasses, last year, 31 the year before and 30 in 2016.
These crashes resulted in 60 injuries and a fatality in 2018, 57 injuries in 2017, and 38 injuries in 2016. The M4 toll was applied in August 2017 after the motorway was widened.
Traffic experts have now raised safety concerns about other off ramps around Sydney, including the Pennant Hills Road and Lane Cove Road exits on the M2, the Bexley Road exit on the M5, and the Pacific Highway exit off the Warringah Freeway.
Transport Modelling director Paul van den Bos said these ramps were a problem because they had a direct impact on the flow, density and speed of traffic — which could result in dangerous manoeuvres at speed.
Mr Shanley met fiancee Broc Nicholson in Mackay and moved to NSW about a year ago seeking panel beating work.
“Most of you have heard the devastating news of our beautiful, strong head, lucky charm Irish boy Francis Shanley has sadly passed away today. He will be forever in our hearts and sadly missed,” Ms Nicholson wrote.
“I thank you all for you love, support and messages of kind words. Going to be a long road ahead getting back on our feet … fly high my beautiful angel I love you forever and always.”
A neighbour told the Irish Mirror that Mr Shanley, who was now living in Wentworthville, was well known in the community and that everyone was in shock at his death.
“Francis was a lovely lad. It’s just terrible news — it’s not something that any family should have to go through.”
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CALLS FOR REPORT ON M4 BLACK SPOT
Labor’s spokeswoman for Roads and Transport Jodi McKay said there had been a “high level of negligence on the government’s part” in not dealing with the “obvious safety issue”.
“They should never have introduced the toll without ensuring the road was safe,” Ms McKay said.
Thursday’s accident caused chaos on the motorway, and traffic banked up for more than 15km during the morning peak as the nine patients were rushed to Westmead Hospital.
Seven have since been released.
NSW Ambulance Superintendent Jordan Emery said Mr Shanley’s car was almost completely destroyed in the crash.
“That vehicle in particular was so extensively wrecked, they couldn’t actually locate the patient when they first arrived on scene,” he said.
Emergency service responders who converged on the “distressing” crash site said wreckage was spread out over 200m.
“Parts of it were found towards the start of the dividing wall with more further up the M4 where the M4 passes over Church St,” NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Josh Turner said.
Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Marg Prendergast issued a stern warning to motorists urging them to stop jumping the queue.
“They’re pushing in at speed and what happens is they block the main deck of the M4 which is running at 80km/h,” she told 2GB.
“It’s a difficult enforcement location but we’re going to look at everything we can possibly do to prevent something like this from happening again.”
Ms Prendergast said the department became aware of incidents at the off-ramp after the widening of the M4 in 2017.
Ms Prendergast said there had been fewer incidents since the traffic barrier was installed.
Police said they would not be confining their investigation to any one area and have asked for drivers with dashcams to contact them.
“The investigation is still in its infancy and all lines of inquiry will be examined,” a police spokeswoman said last night.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
Originally published as 75 crashes in three years at M4 black spot where Irish tradie Francis Shanley killed
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