Townsville man charged over Collinsville-Bowen train fatal

A Townsville man has been charged over the terrifying crash between a LandCruiser ute and a coal train west of Bowen that killed his passenger earlier this year.

Bentley Parsgaard, 50, died shortly after 9pm on July 11 after the LandCruiser he was a passenger in became enmeshed in the front of a coal train along Peter Delemothe Rd. Picture: Heidi Petith and Estelle Sanchez

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

A Townsville man has been charged over the horrific fatal crash between a LandCruiser ute and a coal train west of Bowen earlier this year.

Bentley Parsgaard, 50, died shortly after 9pm on July 11 after the LandCruiser he was a passenger in became enmeshed in the front of a coal train along Peter Delemothe Rd.

The ute was dragged 600m down the tracks before coming to a stop.

Mr Parsgaard was declared deceased at the scene.

Bentley Parsgaard, 50, died shortly after 9pm on July 11 after the LandCruiser he was a passenger in became enmeshed in the front of a coal train along Peter Delemothe Rd. Picture: Heidi Petith and Estelle Sanchez

The driver of the ute, a 40-year-old Townsville man, has now been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

The driver had sustained serious injuries in the crash and was taken to Bowen Hospital before being flown to Mackay Base Hospital.

The windscreen of the Toyota Landcruiser following a collision with an Aurizon coal train on Peter Delemothe Rd, west of Bowen, on July 11. Picture: Heidi Petith and Estelle Sanchez

The driver has been issued with a notice to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on November 10.

The two drivers of the Aurizon coal train were not physically injured in the crash.

Mr Parsgaard was the eighth fatal for the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region for 2023, and was the second road fatality that day.

Earlier on July 11, Gavin Hussey, 47, died when the Mitsubishi Lancer he was driving collided with a cement truck at a bend in the roadway on Shute Harbour Rd near Myrtle Creek.

There have been 15 road fatalities across the Greater Whitsundays since January 16.