Man to face court after Burpengary crash left motorcyclist dead, another fighting for life

The identity of a motorcyclist killed in a crash north of Brisbane has been revealed, as a friend travelling with him recalls the split second decision that saved his life.

A Moreton Bay motorcyclist has revealed the split second decision that saved his life after a man allegedly crashed into his two friends riding behind him, leaving one dead and another fighting for his life. Source: NewsCorp

A Moreton Bay motorcyclist has revealed the horrific moment he witnessed his friend killed and another seriously injured allegedly by a drug driver in a devastating crash.

Mango Hill motorcyclist, Neil Mendham, was out for a ride with his two friends doing the “Kenilworth loop” on Sunday, May 21, when tragedy struck.

One of the two men Mr Mendham was riding with died in a crash while the other was seriously injured.

Darren Wright, 57, who was on a holiday from the United Kingdom with his wife to visit friends in Australia, died at the scene.

“He was a man that loved his wife and loved his life,” Mr Mendham said.

“He was a very nice man.

“He was on a trip of a lifetime.

“His wife had come to see a childhood friend, who had moved to Australia, for a three-month visit where they intended to go see the real Australia.

“Now, they will not be able to do that and it’s devastating.

“He never usually travelled, as I understood it.”

Mr Mendham’s other friend, Matthew Jennings, 60, is in hospital with serious injuries.

“He is absolutely shattered, but conscious and probably in shock by the loss of his friend,” he said.

Police have charged the driver with driving under the influence and other offences.

“We were three guys riding home from a lovely ride in one of the best places to rides in the world,” Mr Mendham said.

“We stopped for coffee and stopped at Kenilworth where we had a wonderful lunch and my friend who was visiting, his now widow, told me that he had never had a ride quite like it, that it was amazing and he couldn’t believe the views and it was just fantastic.

“We went to Obi Obi and then up to Mapleton because I knew the ride back would blow his mind.

“We rode and we stopped at a couple of lookouts.

“He, again, expressed what a wonderful day he was having.

“On the way home I decided to avoid the freeway, because this freeway is an absolute nightmare.”

It was on Old Gympie Rd that Mr Mendham’s two friends were allegedly hit by an oncoming car.

“I had four front lights on my motorcycle, there is no way he couldn’t have seen me,” Mr Mendham said.

“My instinct kicked, I have an adventure bike so going off the road doesn’t worry me too much.

“I felt the car go past me, and yelled out, “there’s a f--king car” and when I looked back, there was carnage.

“I was 10 minutes from home, just riding normally.

Mr Mendham said witnesses came to help his two friends.

“The members of the public, that stopped and ran to help my friends, are just amazing to me.

“I called triple-0, but these people said what can we do and I got people doing CPR and people attending to my other friend, who was conscious and the paramedics arrived.

“The police officer told me he would call my friend’s wife so that I wouldn’t have to and two hours later I had to tell his wife that her husband had died because the police hadn’t done that.”

The alleged driver of the car has since been charged with dangerous driving and drug offences.

The 31-year-old Eumundi man, Joshua Halverson, who was driving the car has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, driving under the influence of liquor or a drug, driving whilst suspended, possession of a dangerous drug (Psilocybin) and possession of drug utensil (glass pipe).

He will appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court today, May 22.

Mr Mendham said road safety, including how to drive around motorcyclists and trucks, needs to be heavily educated.

“Motorcyclists are often not scene because they don’t have the profile of a car,” he said.

“Make people more aware.

“Policing in the community is gone because they are being told to engage in revenue raising.

“The focus is all on revenue raising and not actual policing.”