Road toll tragedy: Faces of the lives lost on Darling Downs, South West Queensland roads in 2023
Some were young, some were in their golden years, some left behind grieving children while others were buried by their parents. All died before their time. These are the faces of our horror 2023 road toll.
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The past year has been another sad one on our roads with 59 lives lost to fatal crashes in the Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions.
According to the latest data from the Department of Main Roads and Transport 31 per cent of those fatal crashes involved a motorcyclist, while a further 32 per cent of lives lost were young people aged 16-24.
Speaking at the recent launch of the Queensland Police Service’s Christmas road safety operation, Darling Downs Superintendent Doug McDonald urged motorists to drive with care.
“We’ve had many deaths this year related to motorcyclists, we need motorists to be aware of motorcyclists when driving on roads, but we also need motorcyclists to ride to the road conditions and their ability in particular,” he said.
Here is a list of some of the loved ones we lost in 2023.
January 13: Young woman killed in fiery crash
Jemmah was a passenger in an allegedly stolen Toyota Camry that veered off the Warrego Highway and hit a tree in the early hours of Friday morning.
The car ignited shortly after the impact and Ms Cole-Crighton suffered serious burns from which she would never recover.
Paramedics transported Ms Cole-Crighton to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital where she later died.
January 25: Family killed on highway
Roma residents Jake Pearce, Katy Tattam and their one-year-old daughter Charlie died in a horrific three-vehicle crash on the Warrego Highway at Oakey.
Police said the eastbound car was hit first by a truck being driven in the opposite direction, then was hit by a second, which was travelling east at 11.15am.
The sedan sustained significant damage in the collision.
Mr Pearce’s eldest daughter, Tayla, paid tribute to her dad.
“My dad was the man that would try his best at all times, he was a loving father of five,” she told The Chronicle.
“He was a great dad and we had our ups and downs (but) I will forever have him beside me.”
February 13: Grandmother dies
A 53-year-old Greenmount woman died after a two-vehicle crash on Drayton Connection Rd, south of Toowoomba.
It was reported a station wagon was heading north when it collided with a ute heading south from Toowoomba near the intersection with Simpson Rd shortly after 6am.
The collision sent the station wagon off the road and down an embankment.
Passing motorists rescued an infant who was in the car seat in the station wagon but there was nothing they could do to save the driver, a 53-year-old grandmother who died at the scene.
March 24: Lift home ends in tragedy
The 18-year-old woman allegedly accepted a ride from Isaac Bock, 20, after meeting him in a Toowoomba nightclub, shortly after midnight. The man was allegedly driving at speed along MacKenzie St in East Toowoomba when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree.
Ms Farley suffered multiple critical injuries and died in hospital on April 30.
April 30: Passenger dies in rural crash
The 58-year-old Tara man died shortly before midnight when the ute he was a passenger in hit a power pole.
The crash occurred on the Warrego Highway at Dalby.
The 26-year-old driver, a Chinchilla man, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Dalby Hospital for treatment, died at the scene.
May 1: “Giant teddy bear” mourned by family
The 49-year-old Sunshine Coast man was on his way to see his son who was working on a Texas cattle farm when he lost control of his 4WD on Inglewood-Stanthorpe Rd about 12pm on May 1.
Mr West’s vehicle clipped another motorist before rolling several times.
Sadly Mr West died at the scene.
His daughter Tayha described him as the “most unique person” she knew.
“He was a giant teddy bear, but he always protected us even against the monsters under our bed,” she said.
“Dad always knew how to cheer us up and would give the best hugs.
“There will never be anyone else like him and the world is going to feel a lot colder without his warmth.”
May 19: Elderly man falls in front of truck
A man aged in his 80s reportedly left the Federal Hotel about 2am on May 19 and only walked about a 100m along James St before he fell onto the road.
Due to the foggy conditions, passing truck drivers did not see the man.
He was hit and killed instantly.
May 20: Ravensbourne bike crash
A Toowoomba man died in a horrific crash at Ravensbourne on May 20.
Queensland Police said the 24-year-old man was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle south along Mount Jockey Rd when he collided with a grey Toyota LandCruiser 4WD travelling north.
The driver of the 4WD, a 58-year-old Mango Hill man, provided first aid ahead of the emergency response, however the rider died from his injuries at the scene.
May 25: Mum killed in front of family.
A Yazidi mum was struck by two vehicles in full view of her family on Hursley Rd at 6.50pm on May 25.
The crash sent shockwaves through Toowoomba’s tight-knit migrant community.
The woman had migrated to Australia from Iraq in 2019 and brought her young family with her.
May 27: Car hits tree
A man died after his car hit a tree west of Warwick at Stonehenge, about 8.05am on May 27.
The male driver, who was the only person in the car, was initially reported to be in a critical condition but police later confirmed he sadly died at the scene.
June 2. Two-vehicle crash claims woman’s life
A 65-year-old woman died as a result of the injuries she suffered in the horror crash in the Western Downs.
Police said the woman was travelling in a Ford Falcon sedan when it collided with a Toyota LandCruiser about 4pm near the intersection of the Moonie Highway and Cecil Plains Rd.
The woman was trapped in her car and died at the scene while the LandCruiser’s male driver escaped unharmed.
June 4: “This isn’t fair”
The 24-year-old man from Pittsworth was riding a yellow Triumph Daytona motorbike on the Gore Highway, about 3.30pm when he collided with a Subaru Forester that was travelling in a northeast direction between Southbrook and Westbrook.
As a result of the impact, the motorcycle then hit a grey Mazda CX-3 which was travelling in the opposite direction.
A nurse, who was off-duty at the time, provided first aid but Mr Ariell died at the scene.
Friends took to social media to mourn the loss of the well-loved young man.
“Absolutely lost for words, they say the good die young but this isn’t fair,” Sam Peters wrote.
“You’re already missed so much Jacob and you’ll never ever be forgotten.”
June 7: Young rider collides with ute
A motorcyclist died after colliding with a ute in Toowoomba.
Police said it appeared the 30-year-old man had been riding east on Bridge St, Newtown, when the Holden utility turned into his path from Gladstone St.
The Withcott man was taken to Toowoomba Hospital in a critical condition but succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
The 26-year-old man driving the ute was uninjured.
June 21: 49-year-old man dies
The male motorbike rider died after he collided with a small truck near the intersection of Nugent Pinch Rd and Bridge St at Cotswold about 5.20am.
The man died at the scene while the male truck driver was uninjured.
July 11: Rural truck crash
A 77-year-old truckie suffered critical injuries and died at the scene of a crash on Freestone Rd near Warwick.
Initial investigations indicate shortly before 6pm, a truck was travelling along Freestone Rd when it crashed into a pole near the intersection of Shelley Rd.
The Wavell Heights man was the sole occupant of the truck.
July 14: Teenager killed in alleged stolen car crash
Toowoomba teenager Heidi Riding was killed after the alleged stolen car she was a passenger in lost control on and slammed into trees on a suburban street.
Initial police investigations indicate the vehicle, a silver Holden Commodore, was driving eastbound on Hursley Rd when it careened off the road and collided into trees near the intersection with Tor St in Newtown just after midnight.
The alleged driver of the vehicle, a 19-year-old Ipswich man, has been charged over the crash.
August 6: Killarney man killed in Brisbane
Respected Killarney man James Heron died when he collided with a motorcycle while cycling on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive at Mt Coot-Tha.
The retired postmaster was on holidays at the time and had gone for his morning ride along a familiar stretch of road when tragedy struck.
Mr Heron was remembered as a dear friend who dedicated his time to enriching the lives of elderly residents in the Southern Downs community, and his passion for cycling.
August 6: Young cowboy mourned
Southwest Queensland man Brady Prow was remembered as a ‘young cowboy’ by friends and family who are paying tribute following his sudden passing on the weekend.
Brady Prow, 29, tragically died at the scene after the 4WD utility he was driving crashed into a cow and rolled over on Yaraka Retreat Rd, Jundah early Sunday night.
Friends and family shared their grief and paid tribute to the young musterer on social media.
“Lost for words old boy, thanks for being a good mate,” Justin Atkins wrote.
August 6: Fiery crash
A 49-year-old Southern Downs woman died instantly after her car collided with a truck on the New England Highway south of Warwick.
The truck was carrying about 1000 litres of fuel which ignited causing a large grass fire.
It also hindered the emergency services’ ability to access the woman’s car.
August 7: Elderly man killed on highway
The dangers of crossing a highway on foot were hammered home when an 85-year-old Adare man was hit and killed at Hatton Vale.
The man was attempting to cross the Warrego Highway at the intersection of Summerholm Rd when he was struck by a BT-50 utility.
He suffered a critical head injury and died at the scene.
August 16: Gentle giants dies days before 21st birthday
Beau James Watts’ family was hatching ideas for his 21st birthday party but instead they held his funeral after he was killed in a two-vehicle crash at Pittsworth.
The 20-year-old Darling Downs man was travelling on his motorcycle west on Lochaber Rd about 11.55am when he collided with the side of a Holden Commodore travelling in the same direction.
Sadly he died at the scene.
Beau’s mum Kelly Bronson paid tribute to her young boy, who she said had big plans for his future.
“Beau was a very loving, gentle giant, I only came up to his chest,” she said.
“He was very close to his sister and he loved everybody he came into contact with.
“He wanted to work in aged care because he wanted to look after people.”
October 10: E-scooter crash claims footy legend.
The Darling Downs rugby league community was in mourning after local legend Peter Roser died in October.
The veteran Warwick Cowboys player was riding an e-scooter when he collided with a car on Richmond Drive near the Wilsonton Shopping Centre.
Mr Roser was well-known during his playing days with the Collegians Rugby League club in Warwick in the 1980s and was a founding member of the Warwick Cowboys.
Former coach and teammate Bob Bennett remembered the likeable larrikin as a tough and hardworking forward.
“Pete was known as ‘Tractor’ because he was slow but never stopped and he ploughed through the line,” Mr Bennett said.
“When the going got tough, Pete would always yell ‘my ball’ and take it up time and time again.”
Mr Bennett and Mr Roser played the 1984/85 rugby league season in France with the First Division club Salon-de Provence.
“French football could be pretty violent at times and some of us would give it back but Pete never lost his cool,” Mr Bennett said.
September 8: Highway head-on
A young woman died, while two teenagers and another woman were taken to hospital after a two-vehicle head-on crash on the New England Highway north of Toowoomba.
Police said that about 11.20am on September 8 a Hyundai Tucson travelling southbound collided with a Toyota Kluger travelling northbound.
A 32-year-old Hampton woman, the driver and single occupant of the Tucson, was declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the Toyota, a 36-year-old Oakey woman, was flown in a serious condition to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
September 10: Motorcyclist killed
A man lost his life after he collided with a second motorcyclist on the New England Highway at The Glen, south of Warwick.
Initial investigations indicate shortly after 11am, a group of motorcycles were travelling in convoy when one left the road way and crashed.
Paramedics, police and firefighters rushed to the scene and found a 58-year-old Regents Park man with critical chest injuries.
September 16: Great-grandmother killed
Families across the Fraser Coast and Maranoa regions mourned the loss of a beloved great-grandmother who died after suffering critical injuries on her way to mark a milestone.
Joy Lenore Thomsen, 81, was a passenger in a car heading to the wedding of her Roma-based grandson Travis and his now wife Emily when a LandCruiser and a HiLux towing a caravan collided on the Warrego Highway about 12.35pm on Friday, September 16.
She was left fighting for her life as a result of the collision which happened at Jackson North, about 80km east of Roma and flown to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital where she sadly succumbed to her injuries three days later.
September 30: King’s Birthday Tragedy
Devastated friends and family have expressed their grief and disbelief following the death of 21-year-old Nanango man Riley Wilson in a car accident over the King’s Birthday weekend. The former Downlands student died after his white Toyota HiLux dual cab ute crashed on the D’Aguilar Hwy at Barker Creek Flat, near the intersection with McCauley Broome Rd.
Preliminary investigations indicated the ute had veered off the road and rolled into the dry bed of Barker Creek.
December 1: ‘Country gentleman’ killed
Described as a “true country gentleman”, Kevin Gimm sadly died after his car crashed into a tree at Applethorpe on the afternoon of December 1.
The 74-year-old man’s charm captivated many, with one Southern Downs resident saying that although she only met him once, he left a major impression on her.
“His brother built our dam and enlarged another and Kev carted many truckloads of the dirt onto our driveway for free,” Grace Franchi said.
“That doesn’t happen everyday, does it? I admire these old school types of blokes. Everyone speaks highly of both of them.”
Paramedics rushed Mr Gimm to the Princess Alexandra Hospital but he never recovered.
He died on December 4.
December 8: Motorcyclist killed by cement truck
In the early hours of Friday, December 8, motorcyclist Tyson Daniel White was travelling west on the Warrego Highway when he was hit by a cement truck that was travelling in the same direction.
The collision killed the 43-year-old Western Downs man instantly.
Police have launched an investigation into the crash after a large amount of methamphetamine and cash were found at the scene, which was believed to have been in Mr White’s possession at the time of the crash.
Mr White was known to police and had been recently released from jail after serving time for domestic violence offences.
December 10: Father killed in quadbike rollover
Police are continuing to probe a quad bike rollover that killed a 44-year-old father at Kingsthorpe.
It is understood a family had gathered at an address nearby and that two people had taken a quad bike for a ride when it rolled on Claire Lee Crescent, killing the Bannockburn man who was a passenger.
A man aged in his 20s was also treated on scene for arm injuries and was taken to Toowoomba Hospital in a stable condition.
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Originally published as Road toll tragedy: Faces of the lives lost on Darling Downs, South West Queensland roads in 2023
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