Woman killed on highway was teacher on way home from work

Police has spoken out about the rising road toll in the Wide Bay after a 61-year-old woman, understood to be a supply teacher, was killed in crash at Tinana on her way home from work.

The scene of a fatal crash on the Bruce Hwy near Maryborough. PHOTOS: Stuart Fast, Carlie Walker

As the Wide Bay’s road toll continues to grow, police have been left at a loss as to how to get the message of the Fatal Five through to drivers.

It comes after a 61-year-old woman, understood to be a supply teacher on her way home from work, was killed on Tuesday when the white Nissan Patrol she was driving collided with a truck that allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road on the Bruce Highway at Tinana.

The 23-year-old driver was taken to hospital in a stable condition after the crash.

A 61-year-old woman was killed in the crash at Tinana.

Sergeant Steve Wheeler was at the scene of the crash and said the road toll for the Wide Bay so far this year was double the number compared to last year.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint what’s going wrong or where we’re going wrong,” he said.

“But lot of the time it is driver fatigue or driver error, or drugs, the Fatal Five.

“We’re out there doing our best – you can only do so much.”

A truck was towed from the scene. The driver was in hospital in a stable condition.

Sgt Wheeler said the message was the same every year.

“You don’t drive fatigued, you don’t do drugs, you don’t drink and drive and you don’t speed – all these little things but basically you’ve just got to be aware as a driver.

“Trying to pre-empt things is often difficult, but you can only try your best, and today we’ve lost a 61-year-old female who was driving home from work and she’s now dead.

“It’s so unfortunate.”

Investigations into the crash are continuing.

No charges have been laid in relation to the crash.