Police charge Burleigh Heads man over death of Merrimac motorcyclist Craig Ward
A Gold Coast man has been charged in the wake of the tragic death of Merrimac motorcyclist Craig ‘Wardy’ Ward on the M1 late last year.
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A BURLEIGH Heads man has been charged in the wake of the tragic death of Merrimac motorcyclist Craig ‘Wardy’ Ward on the Pacific Motorway late last year.
Mr Ward, 53, was killed when he took evasive action to avoid a ladder which allegedly fell from a nearby Mitsubishi ute on the M1 at Nerang on November 2.
His motorbike was struck by a vehicle after he dodged the ladder and Mr Ward suffered fatal injuries.
His death sparked a three-day traffic blitz on the M1 mostly targeting motorists hauling unsecured loads, which resulted in 22 traffic infringement notices being issued.
Now, Queensland Police have revealed a 40-year-old Burleigh man has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.
He has been issued a Notice to Appear and is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on May 5.
Police stop tradies on M1 over loose loads
Tuesday, December 15: Police have nabbed a string of motorists for failing to secure loads after launching a traffic blitz in the wake of Gold Coast motorcyclist Craig Ward’s horror death on the M1 last month.
Gold Coast police issued 22 traffic infringement notices during a three-day operation mostly targeting motorists hauling unsecured loads.
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Officers from Nerang, Coomera and Mudgeeraba patrolled the Pacific Motorway, including key entry and exit points, during the blitz between Wednesday, 4am and Friday, 1pm.
Police issued a dozen of the notices for failing to secure a load.
Additionally, three notices were issued for driving a defective vehicle and seven infringements were issued for other driving-related offences, including speeding, driving while unlicensed, failing to stop at a red light and using a mobile phone.
Merrimac rider Mr Ward was killed on the M1 at Nerang on November 2 after a step ladder reportedly fell from a tradie’s vehicle, causing a multi-vehicle high-speed crash.
Investigations continue, but no one has been charged in the wake of the 53-year-old’s death.
An eerily similar incident occurred on November 27, when a motorcyclist collided with metal which fell from a ute on the M1 at Yatala.
Northern Patrol Group Acting Inspector Andrew Godbold said the blitz was a timely reminder for motorists as more vehicles hit the road over the holiday period.
“As we’ve seen on our local roads recently, unsecured loads have the potential to end in tragic circumstances,” he said.
“Whether you’re driving around the corner or travelling on a highway, it’s important to understand that any loose object – whether it is a hammer, a piece of wood, or even a piece of rubbish – has the potential to cause a serious traffic incident.
“We implore motorists to do the right thing and ensure any items they may be carrying are secured appropriately.”
Act Insp Godbold thanked motorists for their understanding and engagement during the blitz.
“Generally speaking we saw good compliance from a majority of the vehicles we intercepted and inspected,” he said.
“There will always be instances where people don’t do the right thing, but it’s also part of our role to educate motorists who, in some instances, genuinely believe they have secured their load appropriately.”
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