Heartbreaking list of Sunshine Coast road fatalities in 2022
There has been a staggering 23 lives lost on Sunshine Coast roads in what has been a devastating year for road fatalities. Here we remember those whose lives were taken too soon.
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Shattered family members of fatal crash victims say they’ve been “robbed” of a lifetime of memories after a tragic year of road deaths on the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland Police reported that 23 people had died on Sunshine Coast roads in 2022.
Comparatively, 14 people died during the whole of 2018, 12 in 2019, 17 in 2020 and 16 in 2021.
In June, Sunshine Coast Forensic Crash Unit’s Sergeant Peter Cowan said that any number of fatalities was too high, but this year especially there had been a distinctive rise.
“We’ve seen too many fatal crashes across the Sunshine Coast this year and the state, they’re all unnecessary and traumatic experiences for everyone,” Sergeant Cowan said at the time.
Some of the lives lost in Sunshine Coast’s horror road toll year
Castor Zabala
The life of “always smiling” Bli Bli teenager Castor Zabala was tragically cut short days after he was progressing his application for the defence force.
Castor, 17, could not be saved after his car slid and crashed on January 14, 2022 in Rosemount despite the best efforts of witnesses and paramedics.
The Nambour State College 2021 graduate and son to Crystal Hann and step son to Bevan McMartin has been described as a “role model”.
His step aunty Kerrie McMartin said Castor enjoyed his time helping at the McMartin family farm at Bli Bli, picking strawberries or lychees and selling them at the shop.
“He will always be remembered as the kid who was always smiling or whistling,” she said.
“Saying he was extremely happy just doesn’t cut it.
“He was more than that to us.”
Ella-May Correa-O‘Hanlon
Ella-May Correa-O’Hanlon, 29, tragically died after paramedics, police and a passer-by tried desperately to save her life about 4.30pm on Sunday, February 27 near the Bruce Highway.
A passing motorist sounded the alarm after Ms Correa-O‘Hanlon was found near the intersection of Frizzo Connection Rd and Cunning Rd.
The passer-by rendered help before flagging down a nearby police officer to help.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and helped conduct CPR alongside the pair but the 29-year-old tragically died from her injuries.
Lleyton Bartlett and Aaron Pitt
Aaron Pitt, 25, of Currimundi and Lleyton Bartlett, 22, of Baringa, were both repairing a broken-down bus on the side of Nambour Connection Rd when the pair were allegedly hit and killed by a car about 3.30pm Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Bystanders and paramedics rushed to the scene but all help was in vain as they succumbed to their critical injuries at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
A 43-year-old Warana woman has since been charged with dangerous driving of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance following the police investigation.
Childhood friend of Mr Pitt, Mitchell Randell, told the Sunshine Coast Daily it was a “real shock” hearing the news about his friend who he grew up with.
“He was a legend of a bloke, I grew up through my teenage years with him in Parklands riding motorbikes and push bikes around,” he said.
“He always had a smile on his face and was just a top guy.
“He has a lot of friends on the Sunshine Coast.”
Mr Bartlett’s mum Lisa Bartlett paid tribute to her “caring” and “popular” son who had just completed his diesel mechanic apprenticeship in January.
“Lleyton was full of life, he always lived in the fast lane,” Mrs Bartlett said.
“He loved to play sports, he did motocross and hockey, and loved camping with his mates.
“He always put on a smile on everyone’s face.”
Nick Newell
Nick Newell of Cooroy, 49, died in a fatal motorcycle crash along Lawnville Rd about 5pm February 21, 2022 when his motorbike crashed off the side of the road.
Investigations indicated Mr Newell had lost control on a bend in the road and came to a stop in a spoon drain.
Police say Mr Newell suffered critical injuries as passing motorists stopped to give him first aid following the crash.
Emergency services attempted to resuscitate the 49-year-old however he died from his injuries.
Flowers were placed at the location of Mr Newell’s sudden passing as the Noosa hinterland community mourns the death of one of their own.
Matthew Makinson
Matthew Makinson, 31, of Booroobin, was found dead in the wreckage of his ute which crashed into trees off the Sunshine Motorway on-ramp at Mountain Creek on April 29, 2022.
Early investigations indicated his 2018 Mitsubishi Triton left the road east of Seriata Way about 1am.
A passing motorist spotted the ute in trees and emergency services were alerted about 7am but tragically Mr Makinson was pronounced dead at the scene.
His partner Charlotte Mumford said the popular horseman and talented rodeo rider was her “best friend” and “my hero”.
Tristan Ferguson
Palmwoods man Tristan Ferguson was engaged, weeks away from buying land to build a house, harboured his own business ambitions and at 25 was on course towards a bright future.
But Mr Ferguson’s life was cut short on February 9, 2022 when he died in a Brisbane hospital, where he had been flown after a horrific crash along Blackall Range Rd in Woombye on February 1, 2022.
Despite the best efforts from paramedics, rescue helicopter crews and hospital staff he was unable to be saved.
His employer, Chris Davis, a man who thought of Mr Ferguson as more of a son than an employee, said getting to know the young man throughout the past five years had been a privilege.
Mr Davis watched as Mr Ferguson made the remarkable transition from a troubled youth to a “lovely, hardworking young man”.
Neville Meikle
Neville Meikle, 59, had been with his car on the motorway off-ramp which runs underneath the Bruce Hwy when he was allegedly struck by a car driven by an 18-year-old woman on May 14, 2022.
Mr Meikle suffered critical chest injuries and was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital where he passed away.
Tributes flowed for the “absolute character” in the weeks since his tragic passing with those close to the Brisbane man remembering him for his contribution the Australian Speed Skating sport.
Ryan Kimball
Ryan Kimball, 16, died in horror Bli Bli crash as a back seat passenger following reports of a car rollover on June 9, 2022.
Beloved stories, kind words and amusing anecdotes were retold by his family, extended relatives and those close to Ryan as they celebrated his life which was tragically cut short.
In a eulogy written by his parents Annette and Graeme Kimball and his younger brother Tyson, the family remembered cherished memories from Ryan’s early life when they lived near the Maroochy River where he ignited his passion for boats.
His days were filled with family time with his mum, dad, his brother, his grandparents and other extended family as they enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing, crabbing, and motocross.
Karen Malcolm
Karen Malcolm, 63, was understood to be on her way home from work when she was involved in a three-car crash along Bells Creek Arterial Rd in Corbould Park about 9pm on August 9, 2022.
Early investigation by police indicated a Toyota LandCruiser travelling northbound collided with Ms Malcolm’s Toyota Kluger travelling south, being driven by the 63-year-old.
She tragically died from her injuries at the scene.
The Baringa grandmother and Sunbus worker known to her mates as “Special K” had been remembered for the love she had for her family.
Matthew Stockman
Matthew Stockman had been on his run from Rockhampton as a truck driver along the Bruce Hwy on December 14 when his vehicle left the road and crashed into a ditch at East End, south of Mt Larcom, near Gladstone.
The Meridan Plains man suffered critical injuries from the crash and sadly died at the scene.
In the days since his death, it emerged the 39-year-old was expecting his first child in early 2023 and had proposed to his fiance earlier this year.
The love of his life Jenna Wall said Mr Stockman was the “missing puzzle piece” to her and her daughter Leah’s life.
“It was complete,” she said.
“He just fit so well with mine and Leah’s life, he was a grumpy old soul but all we ever wanted was a love story like most, getting married, babies.”
Monique Boxsell
Monique Boxsell, 30, was travelling to the shops about 6.40pm on Monday September 5, 2022 along Aherns Rd when her car left the roadway and collided with a driveway culvert.
Police investigations say this caused her car to roll and burst into flames with Ms Boxsell suffering critical injuries in the crash.
She sadly died at the scene.
The Conondale mum was only travelling up the road from their home to the shop when her family’s lives changed forever.
After her passing she has left behind her three young boys Dean, Joel and William, three brothers and two sick elderly parents, along with her friends and family.
Bryce Williams
Mr Williams was hit by a car while jogging along Nanango Brooklands Rd near Kingaroy on September 6, and died of his injuries at the scene.
His death sent shockwaves through the community, after his grieving family shared their heartbreak with the Sunshine Coast Daily on September 9.
His partner, Sunshine Coast influencer and successful business owner Abbey Ginns, shared her heartbreak in the wake of her “beautiful, perfect person’s” death.
“The pain in my heart is harrowing, this is incomprehensible. My beautiful, perfect person, how can you be gone …” she wrote in an Instagram post on September 11, 2022.
“I’m struggling to find the words to do you justice. You touched more lives than somebody would in 100 lifetimes my darling. The safest, most hilarious, generous golden light in our lives. The epitome of the best guy on earth.
“Your heart is in mine, Woodi’s and Rome’s indefinitely. I have no more words, only tears. You are my forever, you are my home. I love you.”
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