Bruce Highway death toll: 134 fatalities in just four years
In just four years, Bruce Hwy crashes have killed 134 people, and the toll is rising. These are some of the names and faces of those who never made it home.
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In just a four-year period, crashes along the notorious Bruce Highway claimed the lives of 134 people, and the toll is continuing to rise.
In the four years from 2020 to 2023, some 121 crashes claimed the lives of 134 people, with a further nine people dying in six crashes so far in 2024.
These are some of the names and faces of those who never made it home.
2024
Brendan Rigano
January 14, 2024
The 20-year-old was killed travelling south bound on January 14 when he crashed in wet conditions near Mourilyan.
It is understood he crashed his motorbike less than 3km from his Moresby home.
He was declared dead at the scene.
Thomas Micheal Brady and Belinda Judy Waltisbuhl
February 27, 2024
Mr Brady, 32, and 34-year-old Ms Waltisbuhl from Sydney were killed outside Cardwell, at Damper Creek in a single-vehicle crash.
The pair were travelling north in a Holden Commodore when it rolled off the road sometime on Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The wreckage was discovered by a motorist at 6.15am near the tree line.
Family said Thomas had recently travelled up to NQ to visit his dad.
Daniel Stuart
March 22, 2024
Truck driver Daniel Stuart, 50, was one of three people killed at Maryborough when two trucks and a car collided on the Bruce Hwy.
Mr Stuart was driving a semi-trailer carrying lithium batteries along the highway at 9.50pm when his truck was hit by another carrying watermelons, after an SUV entered the highway at a notorious intersection.
The SUV, driven by a Maryborough man, had turned right on to the Bruce in the 80km/h zone into the path of the other semi trailer.
It was then shunted into the path of Mr Stuart’s vehicle, and both trucks exploded into flames.
Sidney Marstella
March 22, 2024
Maryborough’s Sidney Marstella, 53, was the second person killed in the Maryborough triple fatal on March 22, 2024, on the Bruce Hwy.
Mr Marstella had turned right at the notorious intersection and into a semi-trailer travelling along the road about 10pm.
The truck then collided with another on the highway, causing them to burst into flames.
All three people died at the scene.
Tim Hickey
March 22, 2024
Truck driver Tim Hickey was the third person killed in the horrific crash at Maryborough on March 22, 2024.
Mr Hickey was driving a truck loaded with watermelons along the Bruce Hwy when an SUV failed to give way.
His truck collided with another, exploding into flames, killing Mr Hickey, fellow truck driver Daniel Stuart, and the SUV driver, Sidney Marstella.
Joel Betts
April 7, 2024
Chinchilla resident and former Gladstone man Joel Betts, 32, was killed when his car left the Bruce Hwy and crashed into a tree at Kolonga, north of Gin Gin, on Sunday, April 7, 2024.
Friend Kasey White described Mr Betts on social media as a “true angel and blessing on this earth”.
“With a heart of gold and always a helping hand … you decided to grow your wings and we’re all missing you but kicking on to make you proud,” Kasey wrote in a Facebook post.
2023
Matt Ward
January 1, 2023
North Lakes personal trainer Matt Ward lost his life in a horror crash on the Bruce Hwy at Bauple on New Year’s Day, 2023, in a truck crash about 1.03am.
Mr Ward, 40, had celebrated his birthday only days before.
The truck caught fire following the crash and Mr Ward, the driver of the car, died from critical injuries.
Matthew Alder
January 4, 2023
Motorcyclist Matthew Alder was killed near Childers when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car.
Mr Alder, aged in his 50s, died at the scene, near the highway’s intersection with Old Creek Rd about 3pm.
Friends remembered him as a “good bloke” following his death.
Miguel Angel Vitale D’Amico
January 20, 2023
Family of Miguel Angel Vitale D’Amico remembered the 25-year-old as a “hardworking, caring, funny young guy” after he was hit by a truck and died while walking along the Bruce Hwy the night of January 20, 2023.
Mr D’Amico was believed to have been involved in a single vehicle accident earlier that night and had been out looking for his dog “Ragnar” when he was struck near Glenwood, about 10.30pm.
The pair were “inseparable,” family said.
Tiege Close
February 1, 2023
The Bowen man was behind the wheel of a stolen blue SUV when it collided head-on with a B-double about on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury. He died at the scene.
Ben Wallwork
May 5, 2023
The 34-year-old was critically injured when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a tree off the Bruce Highway at Chelona about 4am.
Fruzsina Strausz
July 3 2023
The 29-year-old was killed after the car her boyfriend was driving left the Bruce Highway at St Lawrence and rolled. The pair had been moving from Mackay to Brisbane. An arrest warrant has been issued for her partner Ferenc Isaak, who had returned to Hungary following the crash.
Lachy Azzopardi
July 5, 2023
The Murrumba Downs motorcyclist, 26, collided with a 4WD then another car while travelling northbound at Caboolture.
The crash shut down the Bruce Highway northbound lane around 3.40pm.
Mr Azzopardi suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.
No one else was physically injured.
Mr Azzopardi was remembered by friends and family as a beloved son, brother, uncle and mate.
Caitlyn Dean
July 10, 2023
Caitlyn Dean, 21, died from critical injuries suffered in a crash on July 10, 2023, when her red Holden Barina collided with a prime mover on the Bruce Hwy about 35km south of Maryborough about 8am.
Ms Dean was flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital but succumbed to her injuries three weeks later.
A roller derby competitor, her death sparked an outpouring of tributes from family and friends.
Jodie Paterson
May 12, 2023
Jodie Paterson (Russell) was remembered as a “beautiful, caring and loving daughter, mother, sister, aunty and friend” after her tragic death at Chatsworth on May 12, 2023.
Ms Paterson was travelling south along the Bruce Hwy with her seven-year-old daughter when their car collided with a Ford Ranger towing a caravan.
She died at the scene, and her daughter suffered minor injuries.
Raymond Hansen
August 11, 2023
Husband and father Raymond James Hansen was killed in a single vehicle crash on the Bruce Hwy at Duckinwilla on August 11, 2023.
The 71-year-old died after his car left the road and crashed into a tree about 5.50am.
Another driver on their way to work saw the wreckage of the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder and found Mr Hansen dead inside the vehicle.
Jaiden Fraser
September 11, 2023
Jaiden Fraser was driving a blue 2010 Holden Commodore northbound on the Bruce Highway at Canoona, north of Rockhampton, on September 11 about 10am before it left the road, crashing into trees and rolling.
Sadly, the 25-year-old Yandina man was declared dead at the scene.
Jaiden’s mother, Paganne Kupfer, said her son was lovely and beautiful and she would remember his “cheeky attitude”.
“He was a s**t stirrer,” she said.
“He liked playing jokes and pranks.”
Jaiden left behind a brother, two sisters, and a niece and nephew.
David ‘Dirty’ Collins
September 16, 2023
The 71-year-old died on the way to hospital after a blue Toyota Corolla collided with the motorbike he was riding on the Bruce Highway at Yalboroo about 11.45am. Driver Mark John Black pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing death and was fined $12,000 and disqualified.
Terry Nash
October 4, 2023
Bundaberg motorcyclist and pet groomer Terry Nash was killed when he was riding his BMW bike from Gympie on October 4, 2023.
He left Gympie about 10.30pm and never arrived in Bundaberg, causing his family to raise the alarm.
Two days later a helicopter located his motorbike crashed down an embankment at Bauple, and emergency responders found his body at the scene.
Tyson Mackenzie
October 8 2023
The 27-year-old Bluewater dad was killed in a motorcycle accident on the Bruce Hwy at the Veals Rd traffic light intersection. Despite being administered CPR by an off-duty nurse and doctor, the man died at the scene from traumatic injuries.
Myles Goggan
November 27, 2023
The Andergrove truckie, 40, lost his life after a terrible truck rollover on the Bruce Highway at Clairview just after 11.40am.
Cassandra Reilly
December, 21, 2023
Sunshine Coast mum Cassandra Reilly was killed on the Bruce Hwy north of Gympie days before Christmas in 2023.
The 41-year-old died at the scene when her car collided head-on with another vehicle just after 8.15pm on December 21 at Kanigan.
Ms Reilly had been working at the Pastry Lab, a Caloundra cafe, and her co-workers were left with “extremely heavy” hearts following her death.
Wayne William Bellette
December 22, 2023
Just days before Christmas, 18-year-old dad Mr Bellette died after the vehicle he was driving on the Bruce Highway at Ambrose left the road shortly after 6.30pm.
Tragically, the Toolooa, Gladstone man sustained critical injuries and passed away at the scene.
Two passengers, a 17-year-old Toolooa boy and a 19-year-old South Gladstone man, sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Gladstone Hospital for treatment.
Mr Bellette left behind a one-year-old son and his partner, who was expecting their second child.
2022
John Weber
January 30, 2022
The 78-year-old motorcyclist was taking part in his first official ride of the year with the Townsville Restored Motorcycle Club when his bike suddenly left the road and crashed.
Mr Weber died on the Bruce Highway near the Barrett Rd turn off to Paluma, at Mutarnee.
Club president Drew Jackson said at the time that the group of more than 100 members was in shock at the loss of their mate.
The group were travelling home from the Frosty Mango after a coffee when the tragedy occurred.
Ralph Gibbs
February 23, 2022
The Cairns man, 80, died in a crash on the Bruce Highway and Heronvale Rd intersection about 5.10am at Bowen. He had been returning home when he was involved in a head-on collision that took his life.
Yi-Jing Zeng
March 27, 2022
The Aspiring doctor died after her car and a truck collided just before 8am on the Bruce Highway, south of Sarina about 7.40am. The sixth year medical student had been on her way to Biloela to begin placement when the tragedy occurred.
Alan & Hannah Atherton
April 18, 2022
The 60-year-old died when the motorbike he is riding and a vehicle collide about 10.25am on the Bruce Highway at Koumala. His daughter Hannah, 19, who was the pillion passenger, was flown to Townsville and died about a week later. Driver Debbie Lee Hudson pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing the double tragedy and was handed a five-month wholly suspended jail term. Her licence was disqualified for nine months and a conviction was recorded.
Stirling Edwards-Bland
May 1, 2022
The Whitsunday boy died in a crash about 6.40pm that injured his twin brother Austen and mother about 6.40pm on the Bruce Highway at Gregory River, about 26km north of Proserpine. Serial drink-driver Graham Anthony Hanson was jailed for 11 years to serve at least 8.8 after pleading guilty to manslaughter over the crash. He was also disqualified absolutely from driving.
Bernice Prats
May 2, 2022
The beloved grandmother was killed when the trailer of a truck collided with her campervan on the Bruce Highway at Goolboo, south of Innisfail.
The 80-year-old former teacher’s aide was deeply mourned by her circle of friends and remembered as an adventurer who experienced one of the most fulfilling retirements imaginable.
Darren Holley
May 6, 2022
The Glenlee man was killed when the motorbike he was riding crashed about 4.50pm on the Bruce Highway, near Heifer Creek Bridge at St Lawrence. The 50-year-old adored father had lost control and crashed into a barrier on the side the bridge.
Toby Turner
May 12 2022
The Carmila man, 60, lost his life in a deadly vehicle and bus collided about 7.20pm on the Bruce Highway, near Music St at Carmila. The tragedy occurred just weeks after he married the love of his life.
Brett Anthony Gregory
May 17, 2022
Much-loved Maryborough father and “crazy uncle” Brett Anthony Gregory died when his black Audi collided head-on with a red Toyota station wagon near Glenwood State School about 7.30am on May 17, 2022.
Mr Gregory, 53, was critically injured in the crash.
He was flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital where he died later that night.
Neville Palmer
May 17, 2022
The veteran truckie died in a crash just two weeks after deciding to retire, and two days after his 73rd birthday.
Mr Palmer tragically lost his life when his truck rolled at Rollingstone.
The father and grandfather was remembered as a true gentleman who lived life by his old-school values.
Shane Morse
June 21, 2022
The Gold Coast man, 62, was driving an Australia Post truck hauling two trailers of mail when he was killed in a head-on collision on the Bruce Highway near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton about 4.30am. Sunshine Coast woman Jennifer Joan Turner, 41, was sentenced to 10 years prison in the District Court in Rockhampton on December 1, 2023, over the fatal crash after pleading guilty to one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while intoxicated by meth and excessively speeding, drug driving and contravening police direction.
Jackie Faulkner
August, 2, 2022
The Kuranda woman, 59, died near Cardwell after she stopped behind a sugar cane truck that was waiting to turn onto a farm access road when another truck, travelling south, struck her Mazda sedan.
Ms Faulkner was travelling to Townsville to visit her pregnant daughter.
Neither of the truck drivers were physically injured.
Chaise Boon, 18, of Cardwell pulled over to help and held Ms Faulkners hand while a registered doctor, who was in the car behind Ms Boon, started performing CPR until emergency services arrived but tragically Ms Faulkner died at the scene.
Rory and Crystal Armstrong
August 12 2022
The Hervey Bay couple, aged 67 and 62, died in a three-vehicle fatal crash about 11.29am on the Bruce Highway near Gumlu.
Corey Kurtzer
August 13, 2022
Isis teen Corey Kurtzer has been remembered by family and friends as a “gorgeous soul” in the wake of his tragic death on August 13, 2022, when the car he was travelling in lost a tyre on the Bruce Hwy at Booyal.
The 19-year-old was killed when the car left the road and rolled into a drainage ditch.
Twenty-five-year-old Keenan Gregory McCann was charged with manslaughter following the crash.
Mr McCann was committed to stand trial in the Bundaberg Supreme Court, and is listed for arraignment on April 29, 2024.
He has not yet entered a plea to the charge.
Gus Sullivan
August 20, 2022
Kybong resident Gus Sullivan, 61, was tragically killed after a motorcycle crash on the Bruce Hwy at Chatsworth on August 20, 2022.
Mr Sullivan died from his injuries in hospital 10 days later.
Family and friends remembered him as a “beautiful man” and “absolute legend” who was “riding with angels now”.
John Perkins
August 31, 2022
The Tasmanian man 68, was killed when his car and another vehicle collided on the Bruce Highway north of Brandon at around 4am.
Mr Perkins was rushed to Ayr Hospital but could not be saved.
A 39-year-old Giru man who was driving the other vehicle involved was not injured in the crash.
He was remembered as an influential figure in his community of Latrobe, where he served as a councillor for 24 years.
Joshua Gallier
October 7, 2022
The 25-year-old motorcyclist collided with a car on the highway at Morayfield, near Caboolture.
Both vehicles had been travelling northbound and collided around 9pm.
Mr Gallier died at the scene.
The northbound lane was closed overnight at the Uhlmann Rd overpass.
Jesse Rodman
December 8, 2022
Mr Rodman was killed in a horrific crash on the Bruce Highway at Gordonvale.
The Cairns chippy driving a Toyota HiLux when the vehicle was involved in a collision with a truck and a Mazda BT50. Following the crash, Mr Rodman was taken to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition where he died shortly after.
Matthew Stockman
December 14, 2022
The Meridan Plains truck driver, 39, was killed when his vehicle left the Bruce Hwy near Gladstone on December 14, 2022.
Mr Stockman, who was engaged and expecting his first child, was on his run from Rockhampton when the crash occurred at East End, South of Mt Larcom, near Gladstone.
He suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.
Blake Hogue-Kokles
December 27, 2022
The death of 28-year-old Blake Hogue Kokles on Christmas Eve, 2022, “left a mark” in the hearts of family and friends.
Mr Hogue-Kokles was killed when the Honda Civic he was driving collided with a truck on the Bruce Hwy near Gin Gin about 4.30pm.
He died of his injuries at the scene.
2021
Hunter Evans
March 19, 2021
Mr Evans, known fondly as Merv by his mates, died when his motorcycle collided with a truck near Giru on the Bruce Highway. The 18-year-old died at the scene, while the truck driver was uninjured.
Nathan Tong
March 22, 2021
Kalkie’s Nathan Tong was starting a new full-time job, and preparing to move from Bundaberg to Brisbane when he was killed in a head-on crash at Tiaro on the morning of Monday, March 22.
He was on his way to work when the crash happened.
His brother Nick rushed to the scene but was unable to do anything but watch the helicopter leave with Mr Tong, 28, fighting for his life inside.
Mr Tong died from his injuries the same night.
Julie Stout
June 1, 2021
Torbanlea teacher Julie Stout was killed at Tinana on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, when a truck allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the Bruce Hwy and collided with her 4WD.
She had been returning home from Gunalda State School, where she worked.
Close family friend Guy Meredith said in the wake of the tragedy Ms Stout, 61, had changed the lives of those she taught and “everyone that she comes into contact with is better for it”.
Holly Stewart and Daniel Mitchell
June 22, 2021
Townsville mother-of-two Ms Stewart, 26, and Atheron man Mr Mitchell, 23, were killed when a man driving another car allegedly ploughed into the back of Ms Stewart’s car while she was waiting in a line of traffic caused by another crash on the highway.
The car allegedly rammed into the back of her Mazda, which hit a Mitsubishi ahead in the line.
The driver of the Toyota, Ayden John McLennan was charged with manslaughter.
Neil Carter
July 12, 2021
Truck driver Neil Carter, 59, died in a single vehicle rollover at Caboolture around 4.40pm.
The Sunshine Coast man had been driving a Maleny Dairies truck when it’s believed he suffered a medical episode.
The Caboolture Southbound exit 152 was closed for several hours, and Mr Carter died on scene.
His partner Lyn Griffin said Mr Carter had been a “fun loving” and generous person, with a knack to make people laugh.
Walter Newton
July 16 2021
The Townsville father, 60, died following a three-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at Pindi Pindi about 2.35pm. His 19-year-old son Walter Newton Junior was also seriously injured in the highway crash. In 2023 Justin Wayne Alderton pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death over the crash and was jailed for six years with parole eligibility in April 2025. His licence was disqualified absolutely.
Jacqualine Worth
July 18 2021
The El Arish wife and mother died after the vehicle she was driving left the Bruce Highway, near Bowen, and crashed into a gully about 10.30am.
Nathan Weckert
August 30, 2021
The Sippy Downs student 17, was killed in a roadside crash on the Bruce Hwy northbound at Palmview on August 30, 2021.
Police said he was waiting in the emergency stopping lane after his car hit a guardrail, when he was struck by a passing vehicle.
He died at the scene.
Brendan Moreland
October 26 2021
The Mackay traffic controller was killed in a horror hit and run incident on the Ron Camm Bridge (Bruce Highway) just after 4am. His work colleagues watched as he was tossed about 50m through the air. Community members rendered first aid but sadly the 35-year-old died at the scene. Tristan James Watson, who had been driving a stolen car, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was jailed for 5.5 years with parole eligibility in September 2024 and his licence was disqualified absolutely.
Donna Chapman
October 31, 2021
A 22-year-old Ayr man driving a LandCruiser on the Bruce Hwy was charged by police with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected after he crashed into a Camry.
The LandCruiser was travelling southbound when it collided with a Camry travelling northbound, which then struck a Mazda also going northbound.
The driver of the Mazda, 47-year-old Ms Champman – was declared dead at the scene.
Travelling with her was a pair of two-year-old children who were taken to hospital in a critical condition, and a 30-year-oldwoman, also critical.
The driver of the Camry, a 44-year-old Rasmussen man, was not injured.
The driver of the LandCruiser and his passenger, a 30-year-old Kelso man, were taken to hospital in a stable condition before police pressed the charge.
Krissie-Lee Sheridan
November 12, 2021
Krissie-Lee Sheridan, 26, had been missing for two days before her body was tragically found in the wreckage of a car off the Bruce Hwy at Kolonga, about 45km outside Gin Gin.
She had been travelling from Urangan to Blackwater and was reported missing by her employers on November 10, 2021, when she did not arrive for her shift.
Ms Sheridan’s sister Shay Lee said following the news the 26-year-old was “my life, my rock, my everything”.
“I can’t imagine my life without you because every day of my life has had you in
Aden Lawlor, December 3, 2021
The 20-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run accident.
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