Sons of Brookvale woman hit by truck call for dangerous intersection to be fixed

The sons of tragic truck crash victim Jo-Ann Thwaites, pictured holding her granddaughter, have called for major changes to the intersection in Brookvale where she died - and revealed how she had turned down the offer of a lift home from the shops.

Johnathan, Cassie, Jo-Ann and Nicholas Thwaites on Mother’s Day.

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THE sons of an Allambie Heights woman killed after she was hit by two trucks in Brookvale have called for major changes to the intersection that took their “rock”.

Jo-Ann Bronwyn Thwaites, 60, was hit by a truck at the junction of Condamine St and Old Pittwater Rd before being hit by another truck at the crossing on Friday morning.

Johnathan Thwaites, 35 called for the entire strip to be governed by traffic signals, instead of partially by zebra crossings.

Family photo of Major Anthony Alan Thwaites and wife Jo-Ann Thwaites / Supplied

“Just the whole design of that crossing is wrong. It is a random accident we want to try to make sure doesn’t happen again,” he said

Her youngest son, Nicholas, a 31-year-old electrician revealed that matters were made more heartwrenching, because she had declined his offer to give her a lift home from the mechanic shop in favour of walking.

“I offered to pick her up because she would be without a car but she was that into her walking and loved it every morning that she decided she wanted to walk home,” Nicholas said.

“She had gone via Warringah Mall and done a bit of shopping, got a small amount of groceries and that is when it happened,” he said.

Johnathan added: “She would often take my baby daughter along that route. If someone with a child had been walking there, it could have happened to them.”

An IT specialist, Johnathan, said the RMS needed to remove “ambiguity” from the crossing.

“At that intersection someone thinks they are safe to cross and it is ambiguous to the driver ... in this case it has taken 30 years of a grandmother away from my daughter.”

Crossing at the intersection of Condamine St and Old Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, where a woman was hit by a truck and killed on Friday. Picture: Troy Snook

It was made even harder by the passing of their father — Major Anthony Alan Thwaites, a war veteran of 40 years — who died three years ago.

Johnathan said they were “really pleased” with how Mrs Thwaites was progressing since his death.

“She told me she loves walking down to Manly beach, she went for a walk Thursday morning — the day before (she died) and she said she was feeling really good about herself,” said Johnathan.

But there are many happy memories for them to look back on, said daughter-in-law, Sarah Wheeler, who recalled the last time they were all together on Mother’s Day.

On that day, the doting grandmother received some more happy news — she was to be a grandmother for the second time with Johnathan and Sarah expecting a second child in November.

Police cordon off the area where Jo-Ann Bronwyn Thwaites was killed / Picture: Troy Snook

“She wanted more grandchildren ... I am happy we got to tell her that,” Mrs Wheeler said.

Mrs Thwaites was proud of the fact that she had made a vocation out of her passion — caring for the elderly, but it was her family instincts that defined her.

“Her sense of importance of family was incredible, through tough times ... she held it all together she was our rock,” said her brother, Damien.

“She was able to make complete rational sense out of bad situations, when any of us were ill or going through something Jo-Ann was the first one there and was very strong, she would drop everything to help someone.”

Her sister Jillian said she was an “incredibly strong woman”, and that she “would be happy to be half the person she was”.

A 36-year-old man was charged with failing to stop and render aid after impact causing death and negligent driving. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Manly Court on June 15.

Another man, 57, who was driving the second truck was not charged.

Roads and Maritime Services was contacted, but did not respond before the Manly Daily went to print.

Flowers were left as a tribute at the scene / Picture: Carly Earl