Townsville man Bailey Lloyd Baker charged over Bloomsbury fatal crash

A Townsville driver who allegedly caused a deadly multi-car crash that claimed the life of a traveller on the Bruce Highway north of Mackay has been named for the first time.

Aftermath of a crash on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury involving two trucks and a car on August 1, 2024. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A driver who allegedly caused a deadly multi vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway north of Mackay has been named for the first time.

Townsville man Bailey Lloyd Baker was behind the wheel of a Toyota LandCruiser when it, an Isuzu truck and Mazda CX5 all collided in a horror incident that blocked the highway at Bloomsbury for several hours on August 1.

Police allege the LandCruiser was travelling north when it crossed into the oncoming traffic lane about 2.50pm striking the Isuzu truck towing a dog trailer, and then a white Mazda Cx5 travelling behind.

Both the LandCruiser and Mazda were destroyed in the crash, with debris spread across the roadway.

Aftermath of a crash on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury involving two trucks and a car on August 1, 2024. Two people, a man in his 70s and a man in his 20s suffered life threatening injuries and had to be extricated. Two other people walked away from the crash stable. Photos taken at 6pm. Picture: Janessa Ekert

The LandCruiser rolled landing on its roof and passing motorists who were first on scene — coincidentally including a forensic crash officer — pulled the horrifically injured driver from the upside down mangled wreck.

The Mazda was forced into bushland following the impact and the driver, a 72-year-old man from Victoria, was critically injured and flown to Townsville where he tragically succumbed to his injuries two weeks later on August 14.

Bailey Lloyd Baker leaves Mackay courthouse after his first appearance for reckless driving causing death over a horror crash on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury. Picture: Krystal Hender

A passenger in the LandCruiser, a 34-year-old Mundingburra man, the driver of the Isuzu, a 61-year-old Sarina man, and a passenger in the Cx5, a 69-year-old Clifton Hill woman, received minor injuries and were taken to Mackay Base Hospital.

Mr Baker, a 21-year-old Kelso man, suffered serious injuries and was also flown to Townsville.

Following investigations by Mackay’s Forensic Crash Unit he was charged with careless driving causing death and appeared in court for the first time on Monday.

Aftermath of a crash on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury involving two trucks and a car on August 1, 2024. Two people, a man in his 70s and a man in his 20s suffered life threatening injuries and had to extricated. Two other people walked away from the crash stable. Photos taken at 6pm. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Self represented, Mr Baker asked for at least a four-week adjournment while filed his legal aid application – he had been unable to do so because he lived in Townsville but it had to be filed in Mackay.

He told the court he had been travelling home to Townsville after working south and “was in a car accident”.

Mr Baker said he was not sure how long the legal aid process would take.

The case was adjourned to a date in January for mention and Mr Baker will not have to appear if he was legally represented.