10 Ipswich crashes in one day leaving one dead and five hospitalised

A staggering number of people have been injured on Ipswich roads in just over a month, with police pleading with drives to take care following the tragic death of an Ipswich mum.

Off the back of an already deadly year on Queensland roads, an Ipswich woman has been the latest killed in a heartbreaking crash.

Additionally, in the span of 24 hours, 10 other Ipswich drivers were involved in crashes across the region which resulted in four people being rushed to hospital.

The recent road carnage sadly adds to a total of 76 crashes where people have been injured on Ipswich roads in the past month.

Ipswich Road Policing Unit Acting Officer-in-charge Sergeant Sean Whittet urged drivers to be cautious.

“If you look at it in general terms, 76 injury crashes in the Ipswich district between August and now – that’s a huge number of crashes,” Sergeant Whittet said.

“Some of those are minor but also at the more serious end of it as well.

“An injury traffic crash would run into a social cost of about $1m if it’s a serious injury.

“It has huge implications for society. We are all paying for that in higher insurance premiums, health care, and all the social issues that come with being injured on a road — it all adds up.”

The scene of the fatal crash at Raceview. Picture: 9 News Brisbane

Two people died on Ipswich roads during the past month or so.
A 58-year-old man died following a two-vehicle crash on Cunningham Highway in July.

The man was trapped in his vehicle before succumbing to critical injuries at the scene at Silverdale, between Aratula and Ipswich.

This week, mother of three Elizabeth Francis, lost her life after a horrific crash at Cascade Street, Riverview when the Hyundai Getz she was travelling flipped and crashed.

The alleged driver, who has since been charged in relation to the crash, was taken to Ipswich Hospital in a stable condition.

Just seven hours later emergency services responded to another single-vehicle crash at Goodna.

Sergeant Whittet said police would allege a small amount of alcohol was involved.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the car left the road along Parker Street and crashed into a fence.

“A woman in her 20s was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital stable with neck pain,” she said.

“Two stable male patients were also assessed however they did not require transport.”

Less than six hours later emergency services again responded to a single-vehicle crash — this time at Brassall.

The spokeswoman said the car crashed into a tree on Pine Mountain Road and the Warrego Highway at 4.58am.

“A stable male in his 20s with chest pain was transported to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, [and] a male in his 30s and a male in his late teens were transported to Ipswich Hospital in stable conditions,” she said.

Sergeant Sean Whittet. Photo Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

Sergeant Whittet said a number of recent crashes seemed to be related to a combination of contributing factors, including fatigue, drug and drink driving.

“A majority of what we are seeing … [is] inattention and people not taking responsibility for their own actions on the road, that’s the biggest cause of our dramas,” he said.

“It’s just people not taking road safety seriously for themselves.

“We try to tell people you’ve got to not speed, you’ve got to wear your seatbelt, don’t drive when you are tired, don’t drive when you’re drunk or impaired, [and] don’t drive distracted.

“If you do all those things and you take responsibility for yourself, your passengers, and those around you, everyone is going to be a lot happier and a lot safer.”

Road users are urged to keep in mind the main causes of deadly crashes which includes; speeding, drink/drug driving, Seatbelts, fatigue, and distractions such as mobile phones.