Push for speed limit reduction at Tablelands black spot after death

Weeks after posting an alert about a fatality waiting to happen in Yungaburra, local identity Gordon Grivas was hit and killed by an allegedly out-of-control car metres from the black spot he warned about.

Gordon Grivas died after being struck by a vehicle on the Gillies Range Road at Yungaburra.

Weeks after posting an alert about a fatality waiting to happen in Yungaburra, local identity Gordon Grivas was hit and killed by an allegedly out-of-control car metres from the black spot he warned about.

On Thursday, October 31 Mr Grivas was walking down the Gillies Range Rd when a white MG sedan driven by Natalie Cashmore allegedly veered off the road and ran into the 76-year-old paddling enthusiast outside the Blue Summit Hideaway hotel.

The driver allegedly fled the scene and was located by police a short distance away before being charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

Gordon Grivas, 76, was tragically killed when he was struck by a vehicle that left the road in Yungaburra in Far North Queensland. Photo: Facebook

The MG that hit Gordon Grivas on October 31. Picture: Supplied.

Known to friends as Gordo, Mr Grivas on September 19 posted photos to social media of a car that crashed into a pedestrian traffic island, literally 40m from where he was killed.

“The accident that was waiting to happen, happened,” he wrote.

“Those who proposed, supported and encouraged this idea, should take a long hard look at themselves.

“Next time it could result in a fatality.”

Forty two days later the 76-year-old was dead.

A picture taken by Yungaburra resident Gordon Grivas of a pedestrian island hit by a car before he was hit and killed by a vehicle on October 31. Picture: Supplied

The half measure repair at a traffic island in Yungaburra was described as crash victim Gordon Grivas as a joke weeks before his death on the same section of road. Picture: Supplied

Blue Summit Hideaway Gina Crameri said her hotel was right at the exit of a sweeping bend in a 60km zone soon after the reduction of the speed limit from 100km/h.

“If they lose (control) they come straight for me,” she said.

Ms Crameri said to improve safety of pedestrians using the highly trafficked Syd Williams Walkway leading to the market grounds was to reduce the speed limit.

“The speed has to be dropped down to 40km/h, that’s one thing,” she said.

“We don’t like the wombat crossing, we prefer a zebra crossing and everyone in Yungaburra will tell you the same thing, it needs to be slowed down.”

The car that crashed into a pedestrian barrier weeks before Yungaburra resident Gordon Grivas was hit and killed on the Gillies Highway. Picture: Supplied

Since Mr Grivas’ death floral tributes have been lined up along the footpath outside the hotel in what Yungaburra councillor Maree Baade described as a tragedy.

“It’s definitely affected the community and made you think about safety when you’re walking along the footpath and I think people are more aware and there has been a lot more conversation around it,” she said.

“Everyone feels for his family and by all reports he was a lovely man and did a lot in the community.

“And he just went for a walk to get groceries (and was killed,) it’s just not really fair, it’s just sad, every minute is precious.”

Ms Baade said she would wait for the outcome of the police investigation before lobbying TMR for safety improvements on behalf of Tablelands Regional Council.

Ms Cashmore’s matter was heard in the Atherton Magistrates Court on November 1.

There was no application for bail and she will next appear at the Mareeba Magistrates Court via videolink on November 11.

Follow @petercarruther1

Originally published as Push for speed limit reduction at Tablelands black spot after death