Max Joseph Rourke, 21, killed in crash on the Bruce Highway at Bororen
The young victim of a shocking crash that caused a chemical explosion closing the Bruce Highway is a beloved 21-year-old twin who leaves behind a heartbroken partner, family and friends stretching from the Gold Coast to Rockhampton.
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Just a few weeks ago, a beautiful blonde girl posted photos of herself on social media dressed glamorously in a green dress posing lovingly with her handsome, taller partner in a stylish grey suit with sunglasses and a beaming smile.
Underneath, she wrote a simple message that resonates now more than ever: ‘Find someone who warms your heart’.
Tragically, they are some of the last photos of Max Joseph Rourke’s charming smile, after he passed away following a shock crash that left the entire nation reeling.
It can be revealed the 21-year-old twin who was working for himself as a roofer in Rockhampton was the victim of the terrible accident in Central Queensland that closed the Bruce Highway for several days.
Now Tamsyn’s Facebook description is an ode to their love, reading ‘you’ll forever be my love, my light, my everything’.
Max is being mourned both in Rockhampton and on the Gold Coast, as a former Merrimac State High School.
A beloved son to father Anthony and twin brother to Zac, Max was driving his ute along the Bruce near Bororen, south of Gladstone, when it and a truck carrying ammonium nitrate shockingly collided.
The accident on August 30 about 5am saw the truck spill its load, causing it to catch fire and subsequently a second tank of ammonium nitrate exploded.
A funeral notice for Finlayson and McKenzie stated Max was also a grandson to Jenny and Joe Rourke and a “good friend to many”.
Max’s friend Cameron Mcgrath posted about his heartbreak over his friend’s death on social media.
‘We were only just talking a few days ago. My snap bestie my Brother I just cant believe it at all …’ he stated in his post.
A celebration of Max’s life will be held in the East Chapel of the Rockhampton Crematorium on September 13 at 3pm.
The driver of the truck, a 47-year-old New South Wales man, was airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital with serious injuries.
On Monday, a Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said the man was in a stable condition.
The Forensic Crash Unit is continuing to appeal to anyone who may have seen the Max’s ute or truck prior to the crash, or has dashcam footage, to come forward, as police continue their investigations.
The truck exploded about 9.30am and caused significant damage to the Bruce Highway.
A 2.5km exclusion zone was established after the crash and about 50 people were evacuated from the area.
The exclusion zone was revoked at 5.20pm, allowing residents to return to the area.
The highway officially reopened about 6pm on September 3 to two lanes of traffic (northbound and southbound lanes) with a speed reduction to 60km/h and traffic management in place.
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Originally published as Max Joseph Rourke, 21, killed in crash on the Bruce Highway at Bororen
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