The faces behind Rockhampton, Gladstone, Central Highlands’ fatal vehicle accidents in 2023
The lives of a young man with a ‘cheeky attitude’ and a man who was only three months shy of celebrating his 22nd birthday were tragically cut short after a horror week on Central Queensland roads, with more than 10 lives taken in fatal vehicle accidents across the region this year.
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The lives of a young man with a ‘cheeky attitude’ and a man who was only three months shy of celebrating his 22nd birthday were tragically cut short after a horror week on Central Queensland roads, adding to the 10 lives taken in fatal vehicle accidents across the region this year.
Since January 25, 11 people have died in vehicle and road accidents in the Rockhampton, Gladstone, Livingstone, Banana Shire and Central Highlands local government areas..
According to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, there have been more than 200 fatalities on Queensland roads statewide from over 190 crashes in 2023 as of September 17.
There has been 27 fatalities in the Central region, which includes Capricornia and Mackay districts.
Meanwhile, 23 people died during 2018, 19 in 2019, 26 in 2020, 22 in 2021 and 43 in 2022.
Following the death of two people at Duaringa on August 29, Rockhampton Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Ewan Findlater said every road user has an important role.
“No matter what you are doing, riding a car, a motorcycle, whether you are a pedestrian, a bicycle rider, you need to make good decisions, you need to concentrate 100 per cent on what you are doing, you need to drive to the conditions, we need to be switched on and making good decisions,” Snr Sgt Findlater implored.
Scroll down to see the full list of tragedies this year.
11TH DEATH – SEPTEMBER 11
Joel Weeks was killed and two others injured after a Toyota HiLux rolled on Lake Callide Dr at Valentine Plains, east of Biloela, on September 11 about 6pm.
The 21-year-old Thangool man was taken to Biloela Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The two passengers in the vehicle, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, sustained minor injuries.
10TH DEATH – SEPTEMBER 11
Jaiden Fraser was driving a blue 2010 Holden Commodore northbound on the Bruce Highway at Canoona, north of Rockhampton, on September 11 about 10am before it left the road, crashing into trees and rolling.
Sadly, the 25-year-old Yandina man was declared dead at the scene.
8TH AND 9TH DEATHS – AUGUST 29
Rockhampton’s Raphael Mynott was behind the wheel of a car involved in a fiery fatal crash on the Capricorn Highway, killing him and the other driver.
He was driving a red Mazda 3 which burst into flames after colliding with a silver Toyota HiLux at Duaringa, west of Rockhampton, just after 8pm on August 29.
7TH DEATH – AUGUST 6
A 64-year-old Laidley man died after the truck he was driving rolled on the Bruce Highway north of Gladstone on August 6.
The crash occurred some time before 9pm, with the driver’s vehicle discovered by a passing motorist at the Raglan Creek Bridge near Mount Larcom.
6TH DEATH – JULY 31
A 52-year-old Clermont man died following a single-vehicle rollover on the Burnett Highway at Lawgi Dawes, southeast of Biloela, on July 31 just before 7pm.
The driver and sole occupant died at the scene.
5TH DEATH – JULY 15
Beloved son and brother Riley O’Neal died after his vehicle rolled on a beach at Rodds Peninsula in Eurimbula, north of Agnes Water, on July 15.
The 19-year-old West Gladstone man was driving a four-wheel drive wagon along the beach before it rolled.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
4TH DEATH – JULY 14
Rockhampton dad Craig Spence died after his motorcycle struck the rear of a trailer while travelling on Emu Park Rd on July 14 about 1.30pm.
According to police, initial investigations indicated a car towing a trailer and two motorcycles were all travelling south on Emu Park Rd when Mr Spence, who was riding one motorbike, struck the rear of the trailer, came off the bike and collided with another motorcyclist.
The 51-year-old Frenchville man was seriously injured and transported to Rockhampton Hospital where he later died at 10pm.
3RD DEATH – JUNE 5
A man in his 40s died after a bus was found crashed down an embankment on Emu Park Rd between Rockhampton and Emu Park on the morning of June 5.
Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey from Capricorn Crime Group said the driver of the bus was the sole occupant of the vehicle which was believed to be on its way to Emu Park to start the school pick-up run.
It is understood the bus had collided with two camels.
2ND DEATH – MAY 1
A man in his 50s died in hospital after spending 16 days fighting for life after a serious head-on crash on the Dawson Highway and Gladstone Monto Rd/Tableland Rd at Calliope on May 1 about 5.55am.
A Toyota LandCruiser was travelling west on Tablelands Rd when it collided with the man’s Nissan Patrol headed in the opposite direction.
The man died from his injuries late on May 16.
1ST DEATH – JANUARY 25
A South Gladstone man died after his motorcycle crashed into the back of a vehicle travelling east on the Dawson Highway in West Gladstone on January 25 just after 7pm.
The driver of the car, a 51-year-old Beerwah man, and several bystanders rendered first aid to the 61-year-old motorcyclist but he died at the scene.
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