Govt says Bruce Highway intersection where three died in fireball horror ‘safe’

Furious residents have demanded major upgrades to the Bruce Highway after a triple fatality at a notorious intersection. But the State Government has denied it is dangerous. What do you think? VOTE IN OUR POLL

An aerial photo shows the devastating scene on the Bruce Highway near Maryborough where two truck drivers and a Maryborough man died. Photo: Michael O'Connor

The notorious intersection where three people died in a fireball horror sparking calls from family members for it to be fixed has been deemed ‘safe’ by the State Government.

Truck drivers Daniel Stuart and Tim Hickey along with Maryborough’s Sidney Marstella died in the crash on the Walker Street intersection with the Bruce Highway at Maryborough.

The deaths sparked hundreds of comments calling for a major funding boost to fix the Bruce Highway, particularly north of Gympie, to end the carnage which has seen Queensland’s road toll on track to top 300 this year if the current rate of death continues.

Mr Stuart’s wife Betty Stuart and Mr Hickey’s stepson Jak Mullar met this week on the Bruce Highway where their husband and dad died and called for the intersection to be fixed.

But a spokesperson for Transport and Main Roads, while expressing sympathy for the family’s loss, said: “The section of the road where the crash occurred is current and meets current safety standards.”

“Queensland Police Service (QPS) will take the lead in investigating the crash,’’ the spokesperson said.

“It is standard procedure for our own staff to also investigate fatal crashes on our road network.

“Our local Wide Bay Burnett team will work closely with QPS to complete our investigations and if any road contributing factors are identified, we will act to address them.

“As we head into the Easter long weekend and school holidays, we implore road users to obey the road rules and keep themselves, those travelling with them, and other road users safe.

Police say they believe the actions of the Maryborough driver, in turning out onto the 80km/h stretch from the Walker Street intersection caused the crash which involved two semi trailers – one carrying lithium batteries, which exploded, creating a fireball that engulfed both trucks.

Mrs Stuart tearfully asked why the highway and intersection had not been fixed earlier this week.

Daniel Stuart's wife Betty, supported by stepdaughter Aroha Keen, has asked why the highway intersection has never been fixed. Photo: 7 News.

“How come it has never been fixed?’’ Mrs Stuart said.

“Had it been fixed, it could have been prevented,’ Mr Stuart’s stepdaughter Aroha Keen told 7 News.

“It’s not just us, there’s two more families.’’

The Walker Street intersection is not the only one that is said to be substandard, with another three on the stretch around Maryborough cited as being substandard by users.

The Wide Bay has had a shocking road toll, with about 20 more people killed last year than normal.

Queensland Police said the death toll could rise from Friday’s crash.

“We are still working on the (identification) process and unable to categorically rule out further casualties at this stage,’’ a spokesperson said on Monday, March 25.

“Investigation could take several weeks given the nature of the scene.”

The fiery scene which involved two semi trailers – one carrying lithium batteries and the other watermelons.

Numerous people said the intersection was still deadly, even though it had been upgraded in recent times.

“It is the trying to get out on the highway when vehicles are still doing 80 and more. You think you have time to get out but your pick-up is slow in the car,’’ Julie Scott said.

“Also when it is very busy it is worse. I think a big roundabout there would help, maybe cameras even, just like at Gympie and Wide Bay Highway Junction.”

The tragedy has sparked hundreds of comments to this publication as well as on social media platforms, demanding more funding for the highway.

Brisbane trucker driver Daniel Stuart was killed in the horrific Bruce Highway crash.

‘THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A KEMPSEY DISASTER’

“Now for a moment let’s imagine one of those trucks was a bus full of people. We would be looking at another Kempsey bus crash situation,’’ Courier-Mail reader Brian wrote.

“The Kempsey bus crash was the catalyst to get on and duplicate the Pacific Highway. It took 25 years or more, but they got it done.

“It’s time we got serious about duplicating busy sections of the Bruce. There should already be a plan in place to duplicate the Bruce from Gympie to Maryborough once the Gympie bypass is done. Get on with it!’’

The Brisbane-based disaster victim identification squad was brought in to identify the truck drivers killed in a Bruce Highway crash near Maryborough which also claimed the life of a local man. Photo: Carlie Walker

Bernie said he had driven past that corner many times.

“In good daylight it is like playing Russian roulette. At night in heavy rain you will have no hope. However there are two access corners to the Bruce Highway just north of here at Torbanlea and Howard. Those two are even worse,’’ Bernie wrote.

“All major access roads to the highway south of here are built with flyovers for turning traffic.”

Maryborough's Sidney Marstella was pulling out from the Walker Street intersection at Maryborough West when he collided with a truck which was shunted into another truck. A ute towing a caravan was also caught up in the drama.

But others said drivers themselves needed to take more care – a sentiment shared by police investigating the crash and many that have occurred, particularly in the Wide Bay region.

“My heart dropped when I read this, not knowing the people but realising when I’m out driving it scares me, people are unaware, tailgate, pull out in front of cars towing heavy loads, don’t give way, just downright obnoxious. The majority of people need to go back to drivers school, or the police need to act and be more present on the roads. I’m grieving for these poor people’s family,” Miss Me wrote.

SAFETY REVIEW TO BE CARRIED OUT OF INTERSECTION

It is understood Queensland Police and the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads will conduct a safety review of the intersection.

Fraser Coast Deputy Mayor Denis Chapman spoke on behalf of mayor George Seymour and the wider council, saying any safety improvements for the intersection and the Bruce Highway would be welcomed.

“What that solution may be is ultimately up to the Queensland and Australian governments as the managing authorities for the Bruce Highway,” Mr Chapman said.

“Council has also been advocating for the construction of a four-lane Maryborough bypass to reduce traffic congestion in Maryborough, improve road safety to handle increasing heavy vehicle movements, and shorten the time taken to travel to Hervey Bay.”

“Upgrades to the Bruce Highway, a Maryborough bypass and upgrades to the Maryborough to Hervey Bay Road to four lanes would provide improved safety benefits for a region that is one of the fastest growing in the country.”

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien described the crash as “devastating”.

“Tragically, crashes on the Bruce Highway between Gympie and Maryborough are not unusual,” he said.

“Since the beginning of 2023, we have seen ten lives lost along this notorious section. As former police officer I have seen, and our communities have seen, far too many deaths on our section of the Bruce.”

The MP called the stretch of the Bruce Highway between Gympie and Maryborough “dangerous, inadequate, and not fit for purpose”.

He said in many parts of the country roads supporting such traffic had four lanes rather than just two.

“The time for four lanes through Wide Bay is long overdue,” he said.

“I have been calling on the State Government to bring forward plans to four lane the highway between Curra and Maryborough, starting with the Tiaro bypass.”

“We need to do all we can to stop the deaths and the carnage on our roads.”

WHAT OTHER READERS ARE SAYING

Bruce & Jane

Another tragedy on the goat track. We have a small motorhome and I absolutely refuse to head north from our Brisbane home to travel on this road. Head south to visit family near Canberra and I fume as we travel from Brisbane on beautiful double highways with tunnels to bypass Sydney and wonder why Queensland does not have the same.

Richardf

Why is that after all these years this major road one of the most dangerous in Australia still has not been upgraded to motorway standards.? Labor before the last election promised millions of dollars on upgrades yet once election Jim Chalmers cancelled it saying they couldn’t afford it. Yet they made a nice surplus. State and Feds please get this bloody road fixed. How many poor families will have to go through this nightmare.

Letitia

The Bruce north of Gympie is simply disgraceful! CQ and all the way to the top of the state make SO MUCH MONEY and we can’t even get a safe road to travel on. Everyone on the road has a responsibility to drive correctly but if you’re trying to dodge a pothole at 100km/hr that doesn’t make for a good combination!

Graham Card

Something needs to be changed at that intersection. It’s a nightmare trying to come from Walker st onto the highway heading north. Cars get stuck there for 5 minutes plus waiting for to get across and only 1 or 2 at a time can get onto the highway safely before waiting for another break in the traffic. Drop the speed to 60km and install a big dual lane roundabout or similar.

Bruce Bates

Why does it take a tragedy like this before someone acts to rectify such a poor engineering decision in the first place.

Thelma Mayes

People are becoming too impatient. It’s too much Rush Rush these days. You think these roads are bad. You should have driven here in 1957 the roads were nothing like they are now, there was just enough room for one car to pass another and a few times we moved over just that little bit too far and got in the loose gravel and we would be off the road. Take care stick to the rules and have some patience.

Marcus Stingray

Respectfully I have driven these roads since 1989, and in all conditions, i.e. night-time & heavy rain … even this very intersection on Wednesday, the driver of the car I was in did not turn onto the highway until it was clear both ways for his vehicle to get to the speed limit … road rules are there for a reason, before I blamed the roads I would need to see dashcam video leading up to the crash.

Daniel Stuart, who was killed in a triple fatality on the Bruce Highway at Maryborough, was a devoted dad and grandfather.

Lija Kazlauskaite

People pulling out in front of 80kph oncoming traffic is the problem without judging the speed of the oncoming traffic. And, the traffic along there is doing 80 and often more. Easy enough to cut down Russell St through to Alice on take the on-ramp onto the highway. Maybe they have to reduce the speed to 60 km/h between the Alice St & Walker St turn-offs?

JoJo Walsh

Absolutely terrible and possibly avoidable. I don’t understand why there are no centre road barriers in place on the highway. So many accidents like this could be avoided due to reckless drivers and freak accidents. Condolences to all those involved

Garry

Condolences to the victims and families. This poorly designed intersection on our national highway should’ve been fixed years ago, needs an overpass. Yet Our Government can spend billions on new stadiums in Brisbane to “Showcase Queensland”.

Jody Simpson

Bound to happen when you go from 0 to highway. That spot needs a merging lane.

The horrific scenes from the triple fatality on the Bruce Highway at Maryborough.

Karen

The amount of times I see someone cut in front of a braking truck thereby halving their braking space is incredible. Clearly have no concept of the room needed to stop. So many seem to be looking to become a hood ornament through ignorance! Of course if the trucker hit them guess who people would assume is at fault?

LindaL6

Both north and south on ramps to highway from the roundabout are poorly designed for entry on to the highway with short merging lanes and poor visibility. The Walker Street intersection is far from being an easy entry onto the highway as well. I hate to say it but see only solution is to lower speed limit from south of the bridge to the show ground entrance.

Brian

I agree about the state of that section with both the roundabout entry and the Walker St intersection incredibly poorly designed and not fit for purpose. However the solution is replace them both with a proper grade separated interchange like the one at Tinana.

One of the semi trailers in the crash. Photo: Carlie Walker

Toads

Agreed, reduce the speed is a must between the areas you mentioned, Anne. Some are calling for proper off-ramps and overpass at Walker St, but that would be a waste of money if the Maryborough bypass that goes through to Hervey Bay further up the highway near the Industrial area-St Helen’s. That’d probably benefit more so from the funding/infrastructure, which would take a good part of the traffic away from Walker and Alice Streets.

A large Double lane Roundabout that’s well lighten would tidy up the Walker St intersection a lot. That with the reduced speed limit should reduce incidents substantially.

R.I.P. to those who lost their lives, and condolences to their Family and Friends.

Harry

What a waste of life. The government must now act to fix this before another accident. I regularly drive to Bundaberg and I had one close call at the Walker St intersection. It is so badly designed. I will not use this intersection – I go back to the Iindah road on ramp at Tinana. It’s a little bit out of my way but much safer.

Susan

I am not a supporter of Qld even hosting the Olympics. But to all those who talk about the money spent on stadiums instead of roads. There would need to be a major change in government thinking and a huge change in expenditure patterns if the road from Bruce Highway was to be dual carriage all the way along. The cost of building these projects is so high (and only just dramatically increased because of the CFMEU tax) that all funding would need to be funnelled into DMR to get the job done in the next 25 years. The 6-10B to be spent on a road would only get about 15km of road on one that is 1600 km long. Labor don’t think roads are that important.