Man killed in LandCruiser collision with tree at Cape York

A bucket list trip to the Tip has ended in tragedy for a NSW man who has been killed in a Cape York road crash and his passenger flown out via rescue helicopter to hospital.

A rescue helicopter has been called to assist emergency service crews following a fatal car crash in Cape York. Picture: Brendan Radke

A bucket list trip to the Tip has ended in tragedy for a New South Wales man who has been killed in a road crash on the Peninsula Development Road north of the Archer River Roadhouse.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating following a fatal single-vehicle traffic crash on Friday, August 16.

Initial investigations indicate about 2pm, a silver Toyota LandCruiser was travelling along the PDR about 30kms north of Archer River Roadhouse, when the vehicle left the road and struck a tree.

Emergency services responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash initially thought to be just outside the Archer River Roadhouse, 555km north of Cairns.

The Rescue 510 helicopter was called and landed at the remote crash site before flying a 65-year-old New South Wales woman to Cairns Hospital.

She was the passenger in the LandCruiser.

The driver, a 68-year-old NSW man was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses or anyone with relevant vision of the vehicle prior to the crash is urged to come forward.

The latest fatality follows a horrific death toll on Far North roads including the death of a 67-year-old pedestrian at Mission Beach on Wednesday and a double fatal on the Bruce Highway outside Innisfail last Friday August 9.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating following a fatal single-vehicle traffic crash at Archer River yesterday, August 16.https://t.co/XjGbMI4aGKpic.twitter.com/fRcARXR8Kp

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 16, 2024

Police investigations into the crash are continuing.

Witnesses or anyone with relevant vision of the vehicle prior to the crash is urged to come forward and quote this reference number: QP2401388899.

Earlier on Friday two drivers were hospitalised, including one in a serious condition, following two separate car crashes, one of which temporarily closed the Captain Cook Highway.

Emergency service crews responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash at Mowbray, 58km north of Cairns around 1.45pm, with reports of a car crashing into a barricade.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed two patients were being assessed on scene.

“Two patients are being treated, but it looks like the driver’s suffered a medical episode,” she said.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed the highway had reopened and one person had been transported to hospital.

“The driver was taken to Mossman Hospital,” the spokeswoman said.
“The highway was back open at 2.37pm.”

It follows a separate incident in Port Douglas where a man in his 70s was transported to Cairns hospital in a serious condition following a two-vehicle crash.

A QAS spokeswoman confirmed crews responded to reports of a two-vehicle car crash on Davidson Street at 1.05pm.

“A man in his 70s was transported in a serious condition after suffering a medical episode prior to the crash,” the spokeswoman said.

It follows a separate incident at Oak Beach where emergency service crews responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash into a barricade on the Captain Cook Highway.

Originally published as Man killed in LandCruiser collision with tree at Cape York