Man killed after car crashes into creek on remote FNQ road
A renowned Indigenous artist known for his unique painting style has drowned after a car plunged into a creek at the Orin-Aya dance music festival on Friday. Read the tribute to the Wujal Wujal painter here.
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A RENOWNED Indigenous artist known for his unique painting style has died in a car crash after a vehicle plunged into a creek at the Orin-Aya dance music festival on Friday.
Clarence Ball, 49, was killed on Homerule Rd, Rossville on Friday night.
Police have confirmed he was attending the four-day Orin-Aya festival with three others when a vehicle lost control on wet roads and crashed into Wallaby Creek.
Long-time Rossville resident Arthur Yates said the group was from the Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal and Mossman.
He said Mr Ball’s death was a tragic accident.
“The vehicle tipped over and went into the creek upside down,” he said.
“Clarence couldn’t get out of the seat belt that held him in place.”
Initial police investigations indicate that at 11pm on Friday, a car left the road and rolled into the creek near Homerule Rd, Rossville.
Three other occupants were taken to Cooktown Hospital in stable conditions.
The artwork of Mr Ball, a traditional owner of the Wujal Wujal area, has been exhibited at Bana Yirriji Art Centre, featured in Art Collector magazine and at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
Mr Yates, describing Mr Ball as his nephew, said the artist was an unassuming and humble man.
“He was quiet; you wouldn’t know he was there until he talked to you,” he said.
Known as a passionate educator, Mr Ball also taught his unique painting techniques to the next generation at Bloomfield River State School.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics attended the crash and assisted three occupants of a vehicle that careened off Homerule Rd and crashed into a creek.
The spokeswoman said one patient was taken to Cooktown Hospital by ambulance and two others were assisted to the hospital by police.
“All I know is that the car went into the water. We don’t know if it was trauma or if he drowned,” she said.
A Forensic Crash Unit investigation is expected to determine if Mr Ball died as a result of the crash’s impact or if he drowned. Police stated no other major incidents had been reported at the sold-out event marketed as “music healing and life celebration”.
Orin-Aya festival organisers have been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Man killed after car crashes into creek on remote FNQ road
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