Rollingstone Hotel publican Peter Ford allegedly struck twice by quad-biker

Mystery shrouds an incident in which the owner of an iconic Queensland pub was left fighting for his life after he was run over twice by a quad-bike.

The Rollingstone Hotel on the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Townsville. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mystery shrouds a shocking incident in which the owner of an iconic North Queensland hotel was left fighting for his life after he was run over not once, but twice, by a man on a quad-bike.

Rollingstone Hotel publican Peter Ford, 66, was released from Townsville University Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, six days after he was struck by the quad-bike on Thursday evening.

Emergency services at the time of the incident said Ford suffered serious abrasions and chest injuries, while the quad-bike rider, 41, was taken to TUH in a life-threatening condition following a “medical event”.

The rider, understood to be from Rollingstone, has subsequently been released from hospital.

Staff at the popular pub on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Ingham said on Wednesday that they had been told not to comment, with one person saying the area remained a “crime scene”.

The employees directed questions to pub manager Annie Cronin who said that “hotel management and staff have no comment”.

Rollingstone Police Station was unmanned on Wednesday.

The Rollingstone Hotel on the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Townsville. Picture: Cameron Bates

A local said members of the community had been told to keep the incident “hush hush” but said that Mr Ford had been run over twice in an ugly incident.

The person said that shocked pub patrons had been forced to intervene.

The person said that the rider had then suffered a medical episode in the form of a number of seizures “before the ambulance even got there”.

The concert area at the Rollingstone Hotel on the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Townsville. Picture: Cameron Bates

A second member of the Rollingstone community said she had been told that Mr Ford had attempted to stop the rider from doing burnouts in the pub car park.

“The guy ran him over and started doing more donuts and then ran back over him again.”

The person said the pub patrons did not take kindly to the incident and intervened.

“It’s terrible, why would you do it? Like you ran over him once and then to … go over him again, that’s shocking.”

The Townsville Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident.

The Rollingstone Police Station is not staffed 24/7. Picture: Cameron Bates

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed the “traffic crash with injury” investigation was ongoing and that no charges had been laid.

A family spokesperson confirmed the version of accounts by members of the community.

They described Mr Ford as a “very strong, stoic” man and not the type of person to get rattled despite the shocking incident.

Despite his injuries and “first sick day in 50 years”, the family said it would be difficult to keep him away from work.

Originally published as Rollingstone Hotel publican Peter Ford allegedly struck twice by quad-biker