Truck driver charged over Whitsundays fatal crash
A truck driver has been charged with causing a fatal three-vehicle Whitsundays crash while allegedly high on meth, killing a beloved local.
A driver has been charged over a fatal crash after he allegedly hit the back of a ute causing it to go the oncoming traffic lane causing a terrible collision in the Whitsundays.
Police will allege the 33 year old had meth in his system when the triple vehicle crash occurred.
Beloved Whitsunday community member Steven Bowen, 63, was tragically killed when his ute, a truck and a motorhome all collided on July 28, 2025 at Cannon Valley.
Police allege about 10.30am Mr Bowen had been travelling south on Shute Harbour Rd when the truck crashed into the back of his vehicle, pushing it into the opposite lane where it was T-boned by a motorhome.
Mr Bowen tragically died at the scene, while the driver of the truck, a 33-year-old Mount Isa man, was flown to hospital in a critical condition.
He has since recovered and after an investigation by the forensic crash unit has been charged with reckless driving causing death and drug driving with methylamphetamines in his system.
He will appear in court at a later date.
The four people in the motorhome, which was driven by an international tourist, were taken to Mackay Based Hospital in a stable condition with minor injuries.
The driver of the motorhome was not charged.
The crash sent shockwaves through the Whitsunday community where Mr Bowen was a well known local.
He was remembered as a “good friend and genuinely nice guy”.
“It is difficult to comprehend the loss of Steven in such tragic circumstances,” one person wrote.
“Absolutely shocked to lose such a good friend and genuinely nice guy,” another wrote.
“Such a shock and awful tragedy. Steve was such a top bloke. True family/community man,” wrote another.
Others expressed how “absolutely tragic” the death was and that the “entire community is mourning your loss”.
