All the lives lost on the Bruce Hwy at Gympie, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg since 2021
Teachers, trainers, farmers, athletes, parents, children; across the Wide Bay the Bruce Hwy has not discriminated when taking its victims, spreading pain and trauma, and cementing itself as Qld’s “death stretch” and “goat track”.
Gympie
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There has been no shortage of tragedy along the 325km stretch of the Bruce Hwy that runs the length of the Wide Bay, from Federal south of Gympie to Miriam Vale, northwest of Bundaberg.
Almost 30 lives were lost there from 2021-2024, a staggering toll that fuels calls for the road to be upgraded to accommodate some driver error and prevent further tragedy.
From a 12-year-old killed while travelling home with his family from an athletics carnival to beloved mothers and fathers, sons and daughter, these are faces of the lives lost on Queensland’s most notorious stretch of highway.
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”.
Scarness man, June 28, 2021
An 86-year-old Scarness man died on a head-on with a truck on the Bruce Hwy south of Gympie in June 2021.
He was reportedly travelling north on the highway when his car collided with the truck, headed in the other direction, about 1km south of the Gold Nugget service station just before 6am on June 28, 2021.
He was the only occupant of the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
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 it.”
Stirling Edwards-Bland, May 1, 2022
Cannonvale athlete Stirling Edwards-Bland was on the way back from an athletics competition in Townsville about 6.40pm on May 1, 2022, with his family when a Nissan Patrol crossed into the path of their Toyota RAV4.
Stirling, 12, was tragically killed in the ensuing crash, which happened south of the Gregory River.
His twin brother, Austin, suffered a serious pelvic fracture in the crash but survived along with their mother Tracy.
They were both taken to Proserpine Hospital.
South Townsville man Graham Anthony Hanson, 45 at the time of his sentence, was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter over the crash.
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.
Brisbane man, July 17, 2022
A 57-year-old Brisbane man was killed on July 17, 2022, when his white 2014 Toyota Yaris collided with a 2022 Toyota HiLux while travelling south on the Bruce Hwy.
The crash happened near the Christensen Rd intersection about 2.30pm.
He was the sole occupant of the car.
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”.
Blake Hogue-Kokles, December 24, 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.
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.
Older man, February 23, 2023
A man in his 70s was killed on February 23, 2023 in a crash at Bauple when his vehicle and a truck collided on the Bruce Hwy about 8.40pm.
The man died at the scene, and the 28-year-old truck driver from Ipswich was not physically injured.
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 airlifted 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.
Caloundra woman, May 24, 2023
A 36-year-old Golden Beach, Caloundra woman was killed on the Bruce Hwy near Gin Gin when the B-double truck she was a passenger in rolled in the early hours of Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
She was freed by emergency workers after being trapped in the wreckage, but died at the scene.
Gypsy Satterley, July 20, 2023
Gypsy Satterley, 25, was one of three people killed in a horror incident on the Bruce Highway at Federal in the early hours of July 20, 2023, for a which a man has been charged with multiple offences, including murder.
Ms Satterley was understood to have been picked up by good Samaritan Terry Bishop on the side of the road before they were allegedly chased up the Bruce Hwy in an incident being investigated as a domestic violence homicide.
Rafferty Rolfe, 26, faces nine charges including murder, robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving with a disqualified licence.
He has not yet entered any pleas and is expected to stand trial in the state’s Supreme Court.
Jessica Townley, July 20, 2023
Beloved Alpaca farmer Jessica Townley was the second person killed in the crash that claimed the life of Gypsy Satterley and Terry Bishop, for which a man has been charged with multiple crimes, including murder.
Ms Townley, 38, had celebrated her birthday two days before her car was wiped out in the crash at Federal while she was travelling south.
Rafferty Rolfe, 26, is facing nine charges including murder, robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving with a disqualified licence.
He has not yet entered any pleas and is expected to stand trial in the state’s Supreme Court.
Terry Bishop, July 20, 2023
Good Samaritan and retired grandfather Terry Bishop was the third person killed in the horrific three car crash on the Bruce Hwy south of Gympie on July 20, which also claimed the lives of Gypsy Satterley and Jessica Townley.
Mr Bishop had been travelling to Brisbane for a wedding when he tried to help Ms Satterley when he saw her at the side of the road.
Rafferty Rolfe, 26, is facing nine charges including murder, robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving with a disqualified licence.
He has not yet entered any pleas and is expected to stand trial in the state’s Supreme Court.
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.
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.
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.
Older man, December 6, 2023
A 70-year-old man travelling with his wife was killed on the Bruce Hwy on December 6, 2023, when his car collided head-on with another vehicle at Apple Tree Creek.
Emergency crews were called to the scene of the crash, near the turn-off to Maryborough Gin Gin Rd, about 5.39am.
The man was critically injured, while his wife and two other patients received only minor injuries.
Mt Cotton woman, January 21, 2024
A 51-year-old woman died after her ute veered off a bridge on the Bruce Hwy and plunged into the Kolan River on January 21, 2024.
Police said the woman, from Mount Cotton, was driving the Mitsubishi Triton southbound when it lost control about 11.45am and went over the side of the Kolan River Bridge, about 50km north of Gin Gin.
Ex-medic Ken Whittaker dived into the river shortly after coming across the crash scene while travelling from Rockhampton to Woodgate.
He was unable to save the woman, who was the only person in the ute.
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.
Man in his 30s, March 31, 2024
A man in his 30s was killed on the Bruce Hwy at Maryborough little more than a week after three lives were lost in a shocking three vehicle crash near the same location.
Emergency service crews rushed to the scene of the incident, which happened near the Maryborough Showground about 3.35pm on Sunday, March 31, 2024.
The man suffered significant chest injuries in the crash at later died at Maryborough Hospital.
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.
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