Crash on Palmerston Hwy near Innisfail kills one man, injures three other drivers

Three lives have been lost on Far Northern roads in less than a week in a horrific series of events for the region.

THREE lives have been lost on Far Northern roads in less than a week in a horrific series of events for the region.

A man died at Innisfail Hospital following a two-vehicle crash about 6.45pm, Sunday, on the Palmerston Hwy, southwest of Innisfail.

Preliminary police information indicated a white Hyundai Accent and white Toyota RAV4 were involved in the crash and man was the driver of the former.

His 19-year-old male passenger was flown to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition, suffering from limb, abdominal and pelvic injuries. On Monday, a Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokesman said the 19-year-old was in a serious but stable condition.

A man died at Innisfail Hospital following a two-vehicle crash about 6.45pm, Sunday, on the Palmerston Hwy, southwest of Innisfail.

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While police were yet to confirm the age of the driver who died, managers at a number of Innisfail backpacker accommodation centres reported that officers had approached them on Monday to investigate if he was staying at their property, revealing the man was an international visitor.

The two patients in the RAV4 were a 61-year-old Tolga woman who suffered significant leg injuries and a 69-year-old Tolga man with chest, leg and arm injuries.

The man was in stable condition at Innisfail Hospital, while the woman was transferred to Townsville Hospital.

Operator of Mamu Tropical Skywalk, which is located near the scene of the crash, Mark Evans said every fatality was tragic and “really felt” for the man’s family overseas.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like for a family to receive that call especially with a loved one overseas,” he said.

Mr Evans said although there was no suggestion at this road conditions contributed, he said it was “one of the better sections at the moment.”

The fatal crash was the third for the Far North in the space of a week after a man in his 30 died on Wednesday after his car failed to navigate a bend on the Gillies Range Road.

And on Thursday a 66-year-old man was killed after his moped lost control, also on the Gillies Range Road near Gordonvale.

Originally published as Crash on Palmerston Hwy near Innisfail kills one man, injures three other drivers