Wide Bay-Burnett records 13 more deaths than this time last year after three killed in horror week

Wide-Bay Burnett roads set the scene for half the deaths on Queensland roads this week, tragically taking the region‘s mid-year death toll to a tragic 22 lives lost.

A week of death and carnage on Wide Bay-Burnett roads has ignited pleas from police and RACQ for people to acknowledge the dangers of driving and understand that lowering the region‘s heart-wrenching death toll depends on drivers.

Following a disturbing pattern looming large over the Wide Bay-Burnett, another three road-related deaths since Sunday has brought this year‘s total to 22 lives lost across the region.

Over the past seven days, a chorus of sirens from police, paramedics and firefighters throughout the Burnett, Fraser Coast and Gympie regions within the Wide Bay have served as a sinister proclamation that another mother, father, daughter or son may not return home that night.

Compared to this time last year, the region’s death toll has jumped by 13 lives lost, and accounted for more than one-fifth of the total 110 deaths on Queensland roads since January, a Queensland Police spokesman said.

Tragic news struck the North Burnett region on Sunday when a man was killed while riding his motorcycle in Eidsvold East.

Initial inquiries indicated about 4.30pm the rider came off his bike while travelling along Kerwee Road at Eidsvold East.

First responders attempted to revive him, but the 39-year-old local was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 61-year-old woman has lost her life in a head-on crash on the Bruce Highway at Tinana, near Maryborough, on Tuesday June 1.

The woman, understood to be a supply teacher, was on her way home from work when her car collided with a truck that allegedly crossed to the wrong side of the road.

A 61-year-old woman was killed instantly in the crash.

On Thursday June 3, a 51-year-old Widgee man was tragically killed following a head-on collision with another car in Gympie.

In the moments following the crash, a 28-year-old Lagoon Pocket woman left her vehicle to help the drivers.

A third-car then crashed into the two stationary cars, causing injury to both the women and the driver of the second car, a 54-year-old Amamoor Creek man.

RACQ spokeswoman Clare Hunter said Queensland’s high roll road was a reminder to drivers to make a conscious effort to do the right thing.

“We’ve already had 110 lives lost on our roads since the start of the year, 18 more than the same time last year, and it’s very concerning to think of where we could be at the end of the year if we continue at this rate,” Ms Hunter said.

“Police data shows, the Central Queensland region is currently the worst area in the State for road deaths so far this year – with 36 people killed – that’s up 30 per cent on the same time last year for that region alone.

“People really need to have a think about how their driving cannot only put their own lives at risk, but everyone on the road - we all need to survive the drive.”

Ms Hunter said the overwhelming majority of crashes were due to human error with the fatal five being the key culprit.

“We don’t know how many more times we can say it – please don’t speed, please don’t be distracted behind the wheel, don’t drive if you’re tired or have been drinking, and please wear a seatbelt.”

Speaking to the media in April, Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Mick Sawrey said the Wide Bay-Burnett region currently has the highest fatality rate in Queensland.

“Unfortunately a lot of it comes down to the attitudes of our drivers and the decisions they’re making,” he said.

“I’m pleading with drivers in the Wide Bay and visiting the Wide Bay to be safe.”

Between January and April, Superintendent Sawrey said Wide Bay police conducted over 67,000 roadside breath tests, and unfortunately picked up more than 350 drink drivers as a result.