Charleville commemorates 10 years since truck explosion

As Gladstone region residents are reckoning with the aftershocks of a catastrophic explosion on the Bruce Highway, a small South West Queensland community is commemorating ten years since an similar disaster shook their town.

As residents in central Queensland pick up the debris after a massive truck explosion, a western Queensland town is commemorating 10 years since a similar incident shook their town.

On August 30, a two-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at Miriam Vale catalysed an explosion which killed a 21-year-old man, and closed one of Queensland’s most important arterial roads for days. 

One of the vehicles involved in the crash was a truck carrying 42.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

It’s not the first time a crash involving a truck carrying ammonium nitrate resulted in an explosion of such a catastrophic scale.

Exactly 10 years ago, at about 9pm on September 5, 2014, a truck carrying 52.8 tonnes of ammonium nitrate careened off the Mitchell Highway and into the Angellala creek, 30km south of Charleville.

Charleville truck explosion - The remains of the truck on the upper left. The crater in the creek from the blast and destroyed bridge from the blast. The scene of the accident where a truck carrying Ammonia Nitrate exploded. Pic Peter Wallis

The resulting explosion destroyed the roadbridge and rail bridge, and the scars left on the Charleville community are still tender.

Murweh Shire mayor, Shaun “Zoro” Radnedge said he was watching the Friday night footy when the windows of his house suddenly trembled.

Charleville truck explosion - The nearby railway bridge that was also destroyed. The scene of the accident where a truck carrying Ammonia Nitrate exploded. Pic Peter Wallis

He lived 25km from the site of the explosion.

“I thought one of the kids fell out of bed,” he said.

Mr Radnedge said 10 years on from the disaster, he still thinks its a “miracle” there were no fatalities.

“The fifth of September, 2014 definitely put Charleville on the map and changed a lot of lives.

“There’s been a lot of physical injuries, of course, and mental injuries.

“We need to consider what they’ve been through.”

He thanked all the first responders for their bravery in the Angellala explosion, as well as during the recent explosion in the Gladstone region.

In commemoration of the 10-year anniversary, the Murweh Shire Council is renewing the signage along the Mitchell Highway which tells the story of the explosion.

An investigative report into the incident by the Explosives Inspectorate from the then Department of Natural Resources and Mines released in 2018 said the explosion registered as a seismic event measuring 2.1 on the Richter scale.

Charleville truck explosion - The remains of the truck. The accident where a truck carrying Ammonia Nitrate exploded. Pic Peter Wallis

The report also said “post blast analysis estimated the size of the explosion equivalent to 10 – 15 tonnes of TNT.”

Debris from the explosion was found up to one kilometre from the explosion site.

The fact that no one died in the blast is believed by some to be, literally, an act of god.

However, eight people were injured, some seriously, as a result of the explosion.

“The injuries included burns, lacerations, internal bruising, bleeding of organs, eardrum perforation and bleeding from the ears,” the Explosives Inspectorate report read.

Charleville truck explosion - A firetruck at the scene.The scene of the accident where a truck carrying Ammonia Nitrate exploded. Pic Peter Wallis

Those who suffered injuries included the truck driver, Anthony Eden, the hero who saved him from the wreck, Timothy Bunyan, as well as the first responders to the incident.

In 2017, Mr Bunyan was awarded for his heroic actions which saved Mr Eden’s life, receiving the Royal Humane Society of Australia’s highest bravery award.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said police “did not take actions against the involved parties”.

However, the State Government, the chief executive of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail attempted to sue Mr Eden and his employer, Kalari Pty Ltd for the damage caused to the highway and railroad. 

The applications were dismissed in a Supreme Court judgement delivered on October 2, 2019.