Two truck drivers killed in head-on crash just off Bruce Highway near Gibson Creek Bridge, Bloomsbury

New details have been revealed about a horror double fatal truck crash on a Wilmar cane farm between Mackay and Proserpine.

The BMA CQ Rescue chopper was called to a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway near Bloomsbury at Gibson Creek Bridge on October 28, 2024. Picture: BMA CQ Rescue

Police are investigating if limited visibility because of dust led to a horror crash that claimed the lives of two drivers at a Wilmar-owned cane property between Mackay and Proserpine.

The Proserpine community is in shock following the loss of 38-year-old and 59-year-old men, both from the area, after two cane trucks collided on the private property.

Proserpine Canegrowers paid tribute to the Saltwater Harvesting workers, labelling it an “absolute tragedy”.

Police and paramedics were called to Bloomsbury, near the Gibson Creek Bridge after midday on Monday October 28.

Forensic Crash Unit Sergeant Michael Hollett said initial investigations indicated the dusty, dirt road might have been a contributing factor in relation to visibility at the time of the crash.

Two fully laden trucks had been outbound as two empty trucks were heading back into the property when the collision occurred.

Sergeant Hollett said the vehicles had thrown up a lot of dust on the road being used numerous times during the day.

He said even though a water truck had been used to settle the dust, the heat of the day and the amount of traffic “possibly led to some visibility issues”.

One of the empty cane trucks has collided with a fully laden truck.

The BMA CQ Rescue chopper landed at the scene but tragically it was too late for the drivers, who were initially trapped in the vehicles, to be saved. They died at the scene.

The BMA CQ Rescue chopper was called to a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway near Bloomsbury at Gibson Creek Bridge on October 28, 2024. Picture: Supplied

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland confirmed it had been notified about the incident.

“WHSQ inspectors attended the scene and initiated a Workplace Health and Safety investigation on site,” a WHSQ spokeswoman said.

“As this is an active investigation no further comment can be made at this time.”

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables confirmed the company was assisting WHS with its investigation.

“Like everyone in the sugar industry, we are saddened by the deaths of two employees of a Proserpine harvesting contractor,” the Wilmar spokeswoman said.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the two men who died yesterday, and others who are impacted by this tragic accident.

“We have offered counselling and support to Wilmar employees and other workers who may be affected.”

Proserpine Canegrowers also issued a statement: “On behalf of Canegrowers Proserpine and our grower community, we extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the two men who tragically lost their lives in the cane haulage accident that took place on Monday at Gibson Creek, south of Proserpine.

“We also extend our support to their co-workers and the local farming community of Bloomsbury as they work through this difficult time.”

This tragedy will not be part of the Mackay district’s official road toll, which totals 20 deaths from 16 crashes in 2024, because it occurred on a private property.

Just hours earlier about 8.30am a 46-year-old Moranbah motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a truck on the Peak Downs Highway southwest of Mackay near the South Walker Creek Mine.

The motorcyclist, a 46-year-old Moranbah man, was travelling east along the highway when his motorcycle collided with the rear of the road train, which had been turning out of a property to head east towards Nebo.

The fatality prompted police to issue a warning for other motorists on the highway that was heavily travelled by larger vehicles such as road trains and was the second motorcycle road death in the Mackay region within two days.