Aitkenvale man on Motorised wheelchair killed in Townsville crash

Friends have remembered the adventurous and quirky life of the man who died in a tragic fatal crash in Aitkenvale. READ THE TRIBUTES.

Townsville man Rudy Hummer, 85, was known as a happy man who was always seen with his white bull terrier.

The man killed in a tragic incident after his motorised wheelchair collided with a vehicle in Aitkenvale has been identified.

Rudy Hummer, 85, was a mechanic by trade who loved his dogs, guns, chevrolets, home-brew, and lived an adventurous and quirky life.

According to his friends and neighbours, the Austrian-born retiree was aware of his severe injuries following the collision with a Holden Monaro in Aitkenvale.

He had been riding his white motorised wheelchair in Alfred Street, around the corner from where he lived, with his white bull terrier Suzy, who was never seen without him.

A neighbour believes he was likely to be travelling to Tom’s Tavern on Monday afternoon, which was his regular watering hole.

Townsville man Rudy Hummer, 85, was known as a happy man who was always seen with his white bull terrier.

Suzy is safe following a check-up at the local vet clinic, and waits calmly in her master’s apartment, which is filled with a lifetime of memorabilia, photographs, and whiskey bottles.

It’s expected she will find a new home with a friend of Mr Hummer’s, who owned a small business in the Stocklands shopping centre.

His long-time friend Corinna Ruhl said that Mr Hummer was always happy.

Townsville man Rudy Hummer, 85, enjoyed his drinks as well as shooting.

“You would never see him in a bad mood,” she said.

“I will definitely be missing him like crazy.

“It’s just, surreal at the moment trying to process it all, just yeah, way too quick.

Rudolph 'Rudy' Hummer was a mechanic who completed his apprenticeship in Germany.

“I would have thought he had at least another year.”

Neighbour and drinking buddy Terry Kelly said they bonded from being born on the same day in August, 20 years apart, and that they shared many life stories.

They were also able to talk while Mr Hummer was hospitalised in the hours before he died.

Mr Hummer was born in Austria, completed his mechanic apprenticeship in Germany and worked for Mercedes Benz, and moved to Australia when he was about 18, and travelled extensively.

Bull terrier Suzy is well and has a new home. For now she resides in her owner's address, but she does have a new home to go to. Picture: Chris Burns

One of the drinking stories they shared was the time in the 1960s when Mr Hummer drove his pick-up truck up the stairs through the double door entrance of a Townsville pub, where his partner at the time worked as a barmaid.

“And nobody got hurt or anything, you know, went through the big wide doors and said, ‘I want a drink’ … and someone made the comment, and he says, ‘hey, this is the first drive-through in Townsville.’”

Another misadventure they shared was the time Mr Hummer went shooting on a property, and as he stuck the rifle through a fence, it misfired and shot him in the stomach.

An older photograph of Rudy Hummer, who died in a collision in Aitkenvale, Townsville.

Mr Kelly said doctors could not get the bullet out so they left it alone. Mr Hummer still had the scar of the bullet hole.

Alfred Street resident, and friend, Jaquanna Elliott said she heard the crash of the collision and ran out to see what had happened.

Ms Elliott and Mr Hummer spoke later that evening over the phone in German, where he was in good spirits and made dark jokes, laughing while believing he would die.

“You’d think he’d go out in old age but he gets hit by a car,” she said.

“I said to the police it’s just bizarre.”

A 28-year-old man who drove the Holden was not physically injured.

He is assisting police with ongoing investigations.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote this reference number: QP2301897374

Originally published as Aitkenvale man on Motorised wheelchair killed in Townsville crash