Craig Strange was killed in a horror crash at Bunya Creek

Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a local council worker and loved family man who was killed in a tragic collision on the Fraser Coast this week.

The man killed in a horror crash at Bunya Creek near Hervey Bay this week has been identified as a popular Fraser Coast council worker, family man and active member of the local community.

Craig Strange, 52, was killed on Tuesday when a truck collided with the Mazda 3 he was driving on Booral Rd.

It is understood the Maryborough avid golfer only celebrated his birthday weeks ago, was an arborist for the council husband to Ellen, and father to Sarah, Jacob and Isaac.

As the tragic news spread, tributes flowed on social media on Thursday night where members of the community mourned the man many knew as “Strangey” and remembered him as a “true gentleman”.

Fraser Coast council CEO Ken Diehm said Mr Strange would be missed by his teammates.

“Craig was a valuable Member of our Council team, he had a positive attitude and would do anything for anybody,” he said.

“While he worked at council for only two years, he was very well liked and respected by his immediate teammates in the Arbor Culture section, Parks Department and across the organisation.

“Craig was always smiling, always happy and generally a really good bloke.”

In a post to members the Maryborough Softball Association confirmed with “deep sadness” Craig’s passing and said thoughts and condolences were going out to his family.

“Craig … actively supported Maryborough Softball and Incas Softball Club where Sara and the boys played for many years,” the post read

“Always positive and upbeat, Craig will be missed by all that knew him. RIP Craig.”

This week, another Hervey Bay father who was travelling behind a truck involved in the crash which claimed Mr Strange’s life, spoke about the terrible events.

Bradd Wessling, 44, and Amber, 17 were travelling along Booral Rd on the outskirts of the city when a truck and Mr Strange’s car collided in wet weather between Main Street and Woods Road about 3.15pm.

Just moments before the crash, Mr Wessling had noticed trouble with the accelerator in his car and had pulled over on the side of the road to stop and start again.

That decision and subsequent time delay may well have saved the pair from being part of the accident.

Instead, as they started moving, they watched as a truck travelling towards Urangan swerve across the road in front of them and end up in a ditch.

“I looked up and saw the back end of the truck flying around and then going down the side (of the embankment),” Mr Wessling said

“At first we thought it was only the truck but when we got closer we realised there was another car and it had been crushed.”

Mr Wessling told his daughter to stay in the car and he jumped into action, helping to redirect traffic down Woods Road as others, including a driver of a passing Queensland Ambulance Patient Transfer vehicle, rendered assistance to those trapped.

Tragically, despite the efforts of witnesses and emergency services, it soon became clear that the driver and sole occupant in the Mazda, had died at the scene.

“It’s a horrible thing … to think he just didn’t make it home … it could have been any of us,” Mr Wessling said.

The driver of the truck, a 54-year-old Hervey Bay man, was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital with back injuries.

Mr Wessling and the other witnesses had originally been concerned he too was “in a bad way” as they had tried to speak with him and see if he could sit up but he was slouched over the wheel and unresponsive.

The driver was in a stable condition on Wednesday night.

Crash investigators are appealing for any witnesses, particularly those with dashcam footage in the vicinity of Booral and Woods Roads at the time, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, Mr Wessling, who lives along Booral Rd and has seen too many accidents in the area (one just around the corner at the intersection of Woods Road and Chapel Road later that same night), believes the growing Nikenbah area needs better roads to cope with the level of traffic.

“If they ever have to block off Main Street and Booral Road, which they regularly do when there’s water over the road or an accident and just around school pick up and drop off time, that corner (at Chapel and Woods) is horrible,” Mr Wessling said

“When we went into town there was a long line up waiting and nearly a crash and when we came back we saw the aftermath of a crash.

“That corner isn’t suited for this kind of traffic so hopefully something can be done.”