Truckie Richard Willoughby in court for Bruce Hwy crash

The shocking events which led to a prime mover crashing into cars stopped at highway roadworks in Central Queensland can be revealed.

Richard Ian Willoughby, 70, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after a truck crash on the Bruce Highway. Generic image.

A truck driver who ploughed his prime mover into two cars stopped at roadworks in Central Queensland has since retired from the industry, a court has heard.

Richard Ian Willoughby, 70, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on February 20 to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said that at the time of the offence, Willoughby was driving a prime mover and trailer as a full-time truck driver for Alpine Fresh.

Sgt Hoskins said Willoughby’s job involved him driving from Brisbane to Mackay, five days per week, “via the exact same route”.

The court heard that on July 4, 2021, Willoughby was driving on the Bruce Highway, when at 5.20am his prime mover crashed into two cars that were stopped at a roadworks zone.

Sgt Hoskins said the prime mover and two vehicles involved in the crash were all written off and the Bruce Highway was closed in both directions for several hours.

Sgt Hoskins said police established that before the crash, the two cars were stopped at the roadworks on a red light.

“Then the prime mover, driven by (Willoughby) at 98km/h, approached the roadworks... didn’t see the other cars which were stopped until the preceding seconds of the accident,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The prosecutor said Willoughby “swerved” the prime mover to the left but collided with the second car stationary in the line-up.

Sgt Hoskins said as a result, the second car was pushed into the first car causing “extensive damage.”

“(Willoughby’s) prime mover continued its trajectory into the grass to the left of the highway,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The prosecutor said the prime mover hit the traffic light trailer, causing the traffic light to be damaged.

“And it was knocked about 10 to 20 metres off the roadway,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The court heard that after impact, Willoughby got out of the prime mover, as did everyone from the cars.

Sgt Hoskins said Queensland Ambulance Service attended and assessed everybody including a young child.

“People were treated for shock and minor seatbelt injuries, but no further medical treatment was required at the time,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The court heard that Willoughby was breath tested by police roadside and he returned a negative result.

Sgt Hoskins said when questioned by police, Willoughby told them he was “feeling fatigued prior to the accident” although he had earlier stopped in an attempt to manage his fatigue.

“(Willoughby) was remorseful and visibly upset when being questioned,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The court was told that police seized a GPS device from inside the prime mover as part of their investigations - it showed video footage of the crash from within the truck and gave police “a true indication” of the speed it had been travelling.

“The footage showed the prime mover driving dangerously by swerving across double white lines on several occasions, prior to swerving back onto the right side of the road,” Sgt Hoskins said.

“The footage also shows the prime mover maintaining its speed through multiple marked roadworks speed zone signs for several kilometres prior to where the accident occurred.

“It is clearly visible that the prime mover doesn’t decrease its speed and it impacted the other vehicles at 98km/h.”

Willoughby was charged in February this year.

“During all interactions with police since the accident in 2021, (Willoughby) has been completely co-operative with police investigations and it is evidenced by his actions that he is remorseful,” Sgt Hoskins said in court.

The heard Willoughby had a three-page traffic history.

Representing himself in court, Willoughby told Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan that after the crash he retired from truck driving and handed his licence into authorities.

“I have no intention of ever driving a truck again,” Willoughby said.

Before handing down penalty, Ms Buchanan said this about the crash: “What could have been a disaster, wasn’t.”

Ms Buchanan fined Willoughby $1500 and she disqualified him from driving for six months.