Wangan resident recounts harrowing triple-0 call at fatal Innisfail crash on Bruce Highway
A witness to a horror car crash that killed a Far North man has detailed her harrowing triple-0 phone call and the gut wrenching wait for help to arrive.
Cairns
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A WITNESS to a tragic car crash that killed a Far North man has described the harrowing phone call to emergency services and the gut wrenching wait for help to arrive.
Wangan resident Joelene Pitt-Baker was driving along the Bruce Highway near Deeral on Tuesday afternoon when she saw a car “flip and land” less than 200 metres from her.
In a dramatic account, the shocked woman immediately phoned triple-0 in a frantic effort to help save the life of the 61-year-old Innisfail driver, accompanied by other good Samaritans.
Tragically, the man died at the scene from his injuries.
“It was very tough,” she told the Cairns Post.
“I saw the car flip and land, it was less than 200 meters from my vehicle, and I rang emergency services as soon as I saw it flip.
TOWN IN SHOCK AFTER SECOND ‘TRAGIC LOSS’
“It was a shock to see it, but I just did what I had to in the moment, as did the others that were there on the scene at the time.”
Ms Pitt-Baker was tasked with staying on the line with an emergency service operator to give updates on the man’s conditions before paramedics could arrive.
She also relayed instructions to others and was able to provide vivid detail about what she saw.
“It was the first time I’ve witnessed a fatal accident, it was very confronting,” she said.
“I’m still not sure how I kept it together, or how the others did as well.
“I guess adrenaline kicked in.
“I truly feel for his family, it’s so, so sad.”
Forensic Crash Unit investigators are still determining the exact cause of the accident.
Swerve marks can be seen on the grass next to the Bruce Highway, about 1km south of Aloomba, where the incident took place.
Police returned to the site on Wednesday morning where a thorough examination was conducted.
They are preparing a report for the coroner.
It is the second fatality in a month after Innisfail woman, Bernice Prats, was killed after a trailer smashed into her campervan.
The recent events have stunned the Innisfail community.
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Originally published as Wangan resident recounts harrowing triple-0 call at fatal Innisfail crash on Bruce Highway
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