Mackay Police beg road users to avoid ‘fatal five’ after deadly spate of crashes

With four fatalities in four days, police officers in a regional mining hub are pleading with road users to pay attention to conditions.

Police officers in a regional mining hub are pleading with road users to drive to conditions following a surge in road fatalities.

The Mackay Whitsunday district in central and north Queensland has recorded four road deaths in just two days, with the chaos beginning on Sunday when 27-year-old Sarina man Jofarn Tapim crashed into a cow while riding his motorbike about 1.50am in Mackay.

Paramedics took Mr Tapim to Mackay Base Hospital in a critical condition, where he died from his injuries.

Acting District Officer Superintendent Shane Holmes, addressing media on Tuesday, said early reports indicated Mr Tapim was overtaking another vehicle when the crash happened.

“Our initial investigations indicate the motorcycle was overtaking another vehicle on the roadway, when it struck that cow in an oncoming lane,” he said.

“The cow was sadly killed on impact as well.”

On Monday, the region recorded three deaths.

Mackay Whitsunday Acting District Officer Superintendent Shane Holmes speaks to media on Tuesday about the region deadly spate of crashes. Picture: Supplied

About 8.30am, a 46-year-old Moranbah man died when he collided with the rear of a truck while riding his motorbike on the Peak Downs highway.

“We understand that truck hadn’t long entered that roadway before the incident occurred,” Superintendent Holmes said.

Just hours later, the region was hit with a double fatality when two cane trucks collided on a private property near Bloomsbury.

The two truck drivers, aged 38 and 59 and both from the Proserpine area, died in the collision.

The police are working with Workplace Health and Safety investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

The deadly spate has pushed up the region’s road fatality numbers to 22 for 2024, six more than the number of deaths recorded across 2023.

“Each of these fatalities is avoidable,” Superintendent Holmes said.

He pleaded with road users to be mindful of the “fatal five” factors that can often trigger crashes, namely drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving while tired or distracted.

“Drive to the conditions and do not contribute to that behaviour that results in the fatal five,” he said.

He added emergency services personnel were impacted by the crashes alongside devastated friends, family and loved ones.

Jofarn Tapim died in a motorcycle crash in Mackay on October 27, 2024. Picture: Supplied

“There is obviously a human impact, from the impact on the family members, friends, loved ones, work colleagues … but also the emergency services and first responders who attend these scenes,” he said.

“It impacts on them as well.”

A GoFundMe launched for Mr Tapim revealed he was expecting a child with his partner.

“Our beautiful Jofarn Tapim left us on this earth to be with the rest of our angels, on his ride from a mates he was making his way back home to his partner whom is bearing his child, Jofarn has unfortunately crashed his motorcycle into livestock,” the fundraiser states.

“Jofarn was a very humble, caring, respectful, loving, funny, outgoing but very chilled young man, didn’t like drama was definitely a lover over a fighter but if he had to fight for what he loved than dear me, loved and cherished by all that got the chance to experience his light.”

The Mackay Whitsunday region serves as a service hub for the coal-rich Bowen Basin.

Originally published as Mackay Police beg road users to avoid ‘fatal five’ after deadly spate of crashes