‘We need him here’: Grieving widow’s plea after truck driver killed in highway horror

The grieving widow of a Brisbane truck driver killed in a triple fatality on the Bruce Highway has made a tearful plea for his remains to be quickly returned to his family so they can give him a proper farewell. SPECIAL TRIBUTE

The grieving widow of a Brisbane truck driver killed in a horror Bruce Highway crash has made a tearful plea for his remains to be quickly returned to his family so they can give him a proper farewell.

Daniel Stuart, 50, was driving a semi trailer carrying lithium batteries near Maryborough at 9.50pm on Friday night when his truck was hit by another truck carrying watermelons, after a car entered the highway at a notorious intersection.

Both vehicles exploded into flames.

The horrendous fire meant that specialist police from Brisbane had to be brought in to formally identify the two drivers, a process the family has been told could take weeks.

Betty Stuart said her husband had kissed her goodbye on Friday and left for work.

Brisbane truck driver Daniel Stuart, 50, was killed on the Bruce Highway while taking lithium batteries from Sydney to Rockhampton.

“Six hours later I got told he had been killed,” Mrs Stuart told Seven News.

Mr Stuart had been driving a truck from Sydney to Rockhampton when the disaster unfolded.

Daniel Stuart was a well loved husband, father and grandfather.

An SUV, driven by a Maryborough man, had turned right on the Bruce Highway in the 80km/h zone into the path of the other semi trailer which was then shunted into the path of Mr Stuart’s vehicle.

Mrs Stuart now faces the prospect of having to find another home after losing the family’s sole breadwinner.

It’s not the first time such a tragedy has struck the family. Betty’s son’s father was also killed as a truck driver, Seven reported.

Daniel Stuart's family are desperate to be reunited with his remains so he can be given a proper farewell.

Like many in the Maryborough community, the family wants to know why such deadly intersections remain along the Bruce Highway.

“How come it has never been fixed?’’ Mrs Stuart asked.

“Had it been fixed, it could have been prevented,’ Mr Stuart’s stepdaughter Aroha Keen told 7 News.

“It’s not just us, there’s two more families.’’

Daniel Stuart's wife Betty, supported by stepdaughter Aroha Keen, pay tribute to the truck driver. Photo: 7 News.

Mrs Stuart said it was important for her family, according to their New Zealand culture, to be able to farewell their beloved husband, father and grandfather. Mr Stuart is originally from Patea, New Zealand.

“He needs to be here. He needs to be by us so we can say (goodbye) to him (and) his grandchildren can sit around his coffin.’’

“All I’ve got of him is his dirty shirt and I can smell his aftershave and his scent.’’

Daniel Stuart, who was killed in a triple fatality on the Bruce Highway at Maryborough, was a devoted dad and grandfather.

Lilly McGuire, who has set up a fundraiser for the family, said her ‘Nani’ was battling breast cancer and caring for great grandparents and now left without her provider.

She “also has the stress of needing to find a new rural property to rent within the next six weeks.

Brisbane truck driver Daniel Stuart was killed in a triple fatality on the Bruce Highway at Maryborough.

“Daniel my Koro’s loss has impacted our whanau drastically, a light that will never be filled, he was an amazing man, selfless, generous and so caring. He will forever leave a hole in our hearts.”

Friend Tony Smith said Mr Stuart had helped him so much, including to get his truck licence, joining him on his first run to Rockhampton.

He would sit on the phone “to me to keep me awake on those hard nights when I first started”.

“You will always be like a dad to me thank you so much for the kindness you showed me. I will forever miss calling you …”

Queensland Police said it would be sometime before the remains of the truck drivers are formally identified. They also needed to rule out that no one else was killed.

‘Hurts so much’: Family’s despair as first victim of triple fatality revealed

A Queensland community has been left reeling after its second triple fatality in less than a year following a horror Bruce Highway collision involving two semi trailers, an SUV and a ute towing a caravan.

Friends and family said Sidney Marstella, 53, of Maryborough, was killed in the crash at after he turned right from a notorious intersection at Maryborough West into one of the semi trailers just before 10pm on Friday.

That semi trailer collided with another sparking a fireball which was fuelled by lithium batteries which were being carried on one of the trucks. The other was carrying watermelons.

Mr Marstella’s niece Leticia Wise said her uncle was well loved and would be sadly missed in the Hervey Bay community. “Sid was a comedian, he was known to make everyone laugh.

“He was very well known in Maryborough. Those who knew Sid Marstella know he was a big, kind, loving, helpful friend.’’

“This hurts so much. Cannot believe I’ll never see or hear from you again,’’ she wrote.

Locals have paid tribute to Maryborough's Sidney Marstella after a horror crash on the Bruce Highway near Maryborough which claimed three lives.

Tabitha Pershouse shared a reel of the crash saying she was feeling shattered. “Cannot believe you’re gone. We will definitely catch up with you again mate.’’

Police could not say whether they have yet identified the two truck drivers killed in the crash or whether there had been any other deaths.

Authorities revealed they had brought in a disaster identification team.

“Due to the collision and the damage to both vehicles, we’ve had to call in disaster victim identification police from Brisbane to assess the remains of the people at the scene so that we can attain the identities of these people.’’ Act Supt Paul Algie said.

Multiple residents in the area reported hearing ‘loud bangs’.

Emergency crews have described it as one of the worst scenes they have encountered.

Earlier police said the 53 year old Maryborough man in the SUV died, along with the two male truck drivers.

A woman, 22, and 27-year-old man from the Northern Territory in the ute escaped major injuries.

A 50-year-old man from Townsville in the vehicle towing the caravan was also caught up in the crash.

Police say the survivors are ‘lucky to be alive’ after the collision. They have been released from hospital.

Act Supt Algie, the Wide Bay police chief said initial investigations suggested a car, driven by the local man who died, was turning right into the oncoming highway traffic from the Walker Street intersection.

The devastating scene in which at least three people have died in a five vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway near Maryborough. Photo: Michael O’Connor

One of the trucks involved hit the car, and then collided with the other truck.

“As a result of that second collision, the two trucks collided and burst into flames instantaneously,’’ Act Supt Algie said.

A car turning right at the intersection was hit by the trailer.

A vehicle towing a caravan behind the truck in northbound lane was also hit by the trailer, he said.

“At this point all we are looking at is a failure to give away,’’ Insp Algie said on Saturday.

Fire crews had to work for some time to contain the blaze because of the lithium batteries, which continued to burn. The fire was still being dealt with on Saturday.

Witnesses reporting multiple explosions, as well as a fire which could be seen for some distance.

Julie Fuller said she first thought the sound was thunder when she heard the explosions from her home near the showgrounds.

One of the semi-trailers involved in the Bruce Highway crash at Maryborough in which three people died.

Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour described the crash as “a devastating tragedy”.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire community are with those who have lost loved ones.”

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders said government and emergency agencies would be focusing on getting people through the tragedy.

He said Maryborough would get through it together.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said there were seven crews on at the peak of the incident.

The presence of flammable material added to the time it took crews to suppress the fire.

Emergency workers at scene of the Bruce Highway crash at Maryborough in which three people died.

Firefighters used specialised equipment to open the semi trailer as well as working to dampen the hot spots.

They left the scene about 1.30am but one crew returned on Saturday morning to assist with the clean up and washing down of a vehicle.

The Forensic Crash Unit and emergency crews remained on site for some time carrying out investigations.

“The disaster victim identification unit only comes to scenes like aeroplane crashes, so I think that gives you a clear picture of the scene that they were confronted with,” Insp Algie said.

Michael O'Connor captured this image from above of the scene of a Bruce Highway crash which has claimed at least three lives.

The highway was closed for most of the day and reopened at about 11.40pm on Saturday night.

“Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has any dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.”
A spokesman from the Maryborough Fire and Rescue Station said on Sunday the entire crew who worked on the crash will be taking the next four days off.

“We get certain training in dealing with these situations but it still obviously takes a toll the more of these kinds of things we are exposed to.

“We do have some internal processes for the firefighters should they struggle with dealing with these sorts of incidents,” the spokesman said.

Two of the vehicles in the crash caught fire with one containing paint causing multiple explosions.

‘MY HEART DROPPED, SO SAD’

Those in the area have described scenes of total devastation. One said there the trucks were ‘beyond words’.

“I heard the explosions here at Oakhurst (about five kilometres away). Was horrible, my heart dropped so sad rip to the victims,’’ Kellie Voss posted.

Jacob Somers reported there was a ‘B-double on fire, paint cans kept exploding, and a vehicle towing a caravan’.

Three people have died after a horror accident on the Bruce Highway at Maryborough involving five vehicles, including a semi trailer carrying paint.

“Police stopped me there and told me to turn around.

“It was also raining pretty hard. Not too mention sitting there I could hear and see small explosions, which was reported later to be paint cans.

“I’m devastated to hear that people passed away in this event.”

Firefighting vehicles at the scene of the Bruce Highway crash at Maryborough in which three people died.

One woman was desperately trying to reach her father, a truck driver, who drives that stretch each night.

LOCALS SAYS INTERSECTION NOTORIOUS

Numerous people said the intersection was deadly, even though it had been upgraded in recent times.

“It is the trying to get out on the highway when vehicles are still doing 80 and more. You think you have time to get out but your pick-up is slow in the car,’’ Julie Scott said.

“Also when it is very busy it is worse. I think a big roundabout there would help maybe cameras even, just like at Gympie and Wide Bay Highway Junction.”

An aerial photo shows the devastating scene near Maryborough. Image: Michael O’Connor

Newly re-elected Maryborough councillor Paul Truscott said his “thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by last night’s tragic incident.

“Let this be a sombre reminder for all of us to always drive safely, respecting road conditions and traffic laws.”

The Maryborough Animal Refuge and Pet Boarding said it had closed for the day because access to Bright Street, where it is located, was affected. Cleaners and dog walkers were allowed through earlier and an on site caretaker is present to look after the animals there.

TRIPLE FATALITY A HORROR REPEAT FOR REGION

The Fraser Coast and Wide Bay region has been the deadliest stretch in Queensland in recent times with three people dying in a stolen car tragedy last year.

A nurse was among the three women in the horror crash in Maryborough involving a car driven by a 13-year-old boy who was known to police.

 Kelsie Davies, 17, Michale Chandler, 29, and Sheree Robertson, 52 were killed while Kaylah Behrens fighting for life in hospital. Ms Davies, Mrs Chandler and Ms Behrens, all members of Reach Church, were coming home from seeing a movie.

By October last year, 43 people had died, up 19 on the same time the previous year.

In November, there were two funeral in two days and then an e-bike rider killed.

It has been so bad that police brought up additional officers from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to carry out extended patrols.

Police say speeding, distracted driving, drink and drug driving, fatigue, and a failure to wear seatbelts have contributed to the carnage.

More to come.

Originally published as ‘We need him here’: Grieving widow’s plea after truck driver killed in highway horror