Five fatalities in Capricornia in just 48 hours: Police ask the community to drive safely

“We could have five in the next 48 hours, we could have five today. We just need people to take care.” Police are urging the community to drive safely after five deaths were recorded from three crashes in 48 hours on Central Queensland roads.

In the space of just 48 hours the Capricornia region’s 2022 death toll went from zero to five.

The horror began on Tuesday morning with a two-truck crash at Wowan, which sadly claimed the lives of Steve Latimer, 52, and Brian Shaw, 63, at the scene.

Then on Wednesday morning, a double fatality was reported west of Longreach, when a Winton mother and son lost control of their vehicle.

The man, 50, was trapped under the vehicle and died at the scene, while his mother, 72, died at Longreach Hospital shortly after.

On Wednesday afternoon, a motorbike with two passengers was travelling along Denison Street when it collided with a BMW sedan travelling on Derby Street.

The motorbike rider, 30, died at the scene while the second motorbike rider, 20, is in a serious condition at Rockhampton Hospital.

Both motorbike riders were wearing helmets.

“It’s been a terrible 48 hours for the Capricornia Police District,” Capricornia Police District Acting Superintendent Mark Burgess said.

“We have had three fatal crashes which have tragically resulted in the loss of five lives.”

The fatal crashed were spread across the district and Mr Burgess reminded the public that accidents could happen anywhere.

“It’s about expecting the unexpected, prepare yourself well, get the rest, do all the right things, no drink driving, no drug driving, seatbelts on, helmets on, do as much as you can to ensure you are driving as safely and conservatively as you can,” he said.

“The first thing people can do is look at their own driving behaviour, that’s the one thing they can control, all of those other things that are beyond their control, well they can’t do anything about that, but they need to start with themselves.

“The unpredictability of the road crashes … we could have five in the next 48 hours, we could have five today.

“We just need people to take care.

“I cannot say that without any more conviction.”

No fatal crashes had occurred on Capricornia roads this year until Tuesday and now that number has climbed to five.

This number is a quarter of the 2021 Capricornia death toll which was 19, and the region is only seven weeks into the year.

Mr Burgess also referenced some of high speeding offences recorded in Capricornia in the past week.

On average police issue 350 speeding fines per week and last week they issued just under 650, albeit they had increased policing with back to school.

“We are seeing speeds of 192km/h along Lakes Creek Road at Koongal … that’s a 70km zone,” he said.

“Crazy speeds, 172km/h in a 80km zone on the Capricorn Highway at Gracemere.

“That sort of stuff has to stop.”

“We really need to take a good hard look at the way we drive, we need to pay attention to the road conditions, we really need to evaluate the way we drive in Central Queensland.”