Mackay police address fatal road crashes in North Qld

With two dead and one in critical condition within 24 hours on North Queensland roads, police officers are pleading for ‘common sense’ to end the destruction.

*Warning – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following article contains the name of a person who is now deceased

With two dead and one in critical condition within 24 hours on North Queensland roads, police officers are pleading for “common sense” to end the carnage.

Tuesday was a horrific day on the region’s roads starting with a 7am fatal at Mount Julian in the Whitsundays where a cement truck had collided with a car to kill 47-year-old Proserpine man, Gavin Hussey.

Then in Mackay a 67-year-old female driver was flown to Townsville in critical condition after a three-car smash up besides Walkerston Cemetery about 8am with firefighters having to use hydraulic cutting equipment to free her.

Come 9pm, helicopter rescue crews were back in action, this time to an arterial road between Bowen and Collinsville where a coal train had pierced through a LandCruiser ute to drag it 600m down the tracks.

The 50-year-old Townsville passenger Bentley Parsgaard was pronounced dead at the scene with the driver, also from Townsville, now fighting for his life.

The Peak Downs Highway was blocked after a serious traffic crash at Walkerston on the morning of July 11, 2023. Picture: Heidi Petith

Mackay Acting Inspector Jeremy Novosel said two fatalities in such a concentrated time span was “totally unacceptable”.

“It is tragic that we have to come together under these circumstances,” he said.

“I certainly appeal to our public to think about what you are doing when you’re driving a vehicle.”

Acting Inspector Novosel said early investigations showed the driver of the LandCruiser, who survived the crash, had entered the intersection even though warning lights were on and the boom gates were down.

A man has died and another man is critically injured following a crash between a Toyota Landcruiser and an Aurizon coal train on Peter Delemothe Rd, west of Bowen, on July 11. Picture: Heidi Petith and Estelle Sanchez

“Unfortunately it appears that the driver has taken a decision to enter into that intersection under those warning lights and has collided with an oncoming train that was laden with coal,” he said.

“Those warning lights and boom gates are there for a reason.

“People should adhere to the warning signals that we have because they are there to prevent any loss of life in circumstances such as this.”

Acting Inspector Novosel said the two train operators had been unable to stop the Aurizon train in time to prevent impact.

“It is significantly difficult for a train driver to stop at the drop of a hat with that much weight behind it,” he said.

The scene of the two-vehicle crash on Shute Harbour Rd and Tyree Road at Mount Julian on July 11, 2023. Picture: Janessa Ekert and Estelle Sanchez

“There is no recourse for train drivers to take any evasive action.”

The collective carnage has sent shockwaves across the community with many expressing their condolences for the families and loved ones impacted by the “devastating” crashes.

“My thoughts are with everyone involved including the train drivers,” Lesley Jamieson posted to Facebook.

“This must be a horrific situation for them.”

Tasha Ramsamy commented, “Wow so many deaths on our roads the last couple of days. My heart goes out to the families at this sad time.”

And Mick Pinky said his thoughts went out to all concerned including the first responders.

Workplace Health and Safety is investigating the train crash, including determining what was the the origin and destination of the ute’s driver and deceased passenger.

Acting Inspector Novosel called on the community to be mindful of the “Fatal Five” behaviours that increased risk on the roads, which were distraction, speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving while fatigued.

“A lot of this just comes down to basic common sense,” he said.