Bruce Highway crash: Horse truck rolls at Gairloch S-Bends near Ingham

In “traumatic” scenes, a number of racehorses have been killed in a horror truck crash on an increasingly notorious section of the Bruce Highway near Ingham.

UPDATE, 11PM: In “traumatic” scenes, a number of racehorses have been killed in a horror truck crash on an increasingly notorious section of the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Cardwell.

The crash is the latest serious accident at the flood-prone stretch of the highway at Gairloch, known locally as the “S-Bends”.

“It’s pretty traumatic to see a beautiful horse laying on the ground in that condition,” Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo said shortly after traveling through the carnage that occurred in dry conditions at 8.51am on Friday morning.

The driver of the truck carrying seven horses allegedly lost control of the north-bound vehicle coming out the top of the S-Bend, rolling and coming to a rest on its side in a cane field.

Multiple emergency responders remain at the scene of the accident, which has closed one lane of the highway.

Among the responders were two vets who were forced to euthanize at least one of the animals.

Three horses miraculously survived with cuts and abrasions.

Passersby stopped their vehicles to assist in rescuing the surviving horses from the truck and attempting to calm them.

At least two people were understood to be in the truck and suffered minor injuries for which they were treated at the scene by Queensland Ambulance paramedics.

“In my recollection, and I live out this way, that’s probably about the fourth or the fifth serious rollover that’s occurred at that washaway in the last four to five years,” Cr Jayo said.

“I don’t know why it’s happening but the tendency for accidents is increasing.”

He said that 12 months ago, a vehicle lost control, rolled, struck a power pole and cut electricity to the Lower Herbert region.

“Obviously there will be an element of driver error involved, I don’t know, I am not an investigator, however there is an increasing tendency for accidents to occur.”

The mayor said it was incredulous that the section of road, which is prone to flooding that severs north- and south-bound traffic between Cairns and Townsville, had not been upgraded despite the money having already been allocated.

“Give that it is already on the books, we should move on this sooner rather than later and get that whole washaway sorted out from a flooding and incident perspective.”

Cr Jayo revealed that he himself had almost come to grief at the S-Bends following torrential rain in the early hours of Anzac Day as he travelled from his home in Macknade to Ingham for the Dawn Service.

“I hit water there hard … I experienced a situation there and I communicated that police immediately as it was a dangerous situation,” he said.

“It was pitch black, there was no moon or stars because of the torrential rain and the water, you couldn’t see it,” he said.

“I’ll tell you what, it knocked me around.”

He said the section of road should be declared an official black spot.

“We may not be able to overcome human error but we might be able to increase safety from an engineering point of view.”

Only on Tuesday, the Katter’s Australian Party labelled the State Government’s plans to upgrade Gairloch as “laughable”.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, KAP deputy leader, said Minister for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Mark Bailey was now claiming that a business case regarding the Gairloch Flood Immunity Project would not be completed until mid-2023.

He said that was unacceptable.

“The project should be fast-tracked to improve road safety between Ingham and Cardwell,” he said.

“We are talking about a two-year wait from when the project got the green light for the business case.”

Mr Dametto said construction would not begin until at least a year after the completion of the business case.

“Is this a joke from a ‘do-nothing’ Government?” he asked.

“I don’t understand what the hold-up is with this project, the 40 million secured by the Federal government has been sitting there well over 10 years now.

“Now you know why North Queenslanders are frustrated when it comes to waiting for the delivery of important infrastructure projects.”

He said the State Labor Government had no problems completing a rapid-fire preliminary, economic, social, and environmental analysis for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics because it suited its agenda.

“While North Queensland has to wait years for vital road upgrades to provide a safer and more reliable national highway that links Ingham to Cardwell.”

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo at the Anzac Day parade and service in Ingham on Monday. Cr Jayo revealed that he himself had almost come to grief at the S-Bends following torrential rain in the early hours of Anzac Day as he travelled from his home in Macknade to Ingham for the Dawn Service. Picture: Cameron Bates

EARLIER>>>

PARAMEDICS and police are at the scene of a truck rollover on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed they received a call about 8.51am to reports a truck carrying horses had rolled at Gairloch, outside of Ingham.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said police were also on scene, but the Bruce Highway was not fully blocked.

One lane is open and traffic is flowing through the area.

It’s understood seven horses were being transported on the truck when it rolled on the north side of the Gairloch S-bend.

The truck was heading north from Ingham to Cardwell at the time.

At least two vets were at the crash scene about 9.30am treating the injured horses.

It is understood at least one horse has been euthanised, while three horses were spotted walking around with cuts and abrasions.

Both people travelling in the truck were not seriously injured.

It is understood one person suffered some minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Originally published as Bruce Highway crash: Horse truck rolls at Gairloch S-Bends near Ingham