Road toll: Motorcyclist dies in freak chain of events

A cruel twist of fate has resulted in traffic collision that has killed one man and landed another with multiple injuries.

A 53-year-old man has died and parts of the New England Highway were closed after a freak traffic accident south of Toowoomba yesterday afternoon.

Police and Investigators from the Forensic Crash Unit are appealing for witnesses after a stationary utility truck attempting to turn on to the New England Highway was rear-ended by a station wagon, knocking the utility vehicle forward towards oncoming traffic, and striking a motorbike.

The motorbike rider, a 53-year-old man, who was travelling north towards Toowoomba, died at the scene about 2:30pm.

A second man, aged in his 30s, suffered head, back and abdominal injuries while a girl, aged in her late teens, sustained minor injuries.

Toowoomba Country Patrol Inspector Danny Shaw asked witnesses to come forward and help police understand the cause of the crash.

He requested any dashcam footage captured in the lead-up to the crash.

“This is our fifth fatality for the year,” he said.

“We ask motorists to drive to the conditions because it is really important they get home safely to their families.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444.