Chaos and death as semi-trailer plunges off overpass
QUEENSLAND'S key road was blocked after a semi-trailer crashed over an elevated exit from the Bruce Highway yesterday, killing two men.
QUEENSLAND'S key road artery was blocked after a semi-trailer crashed over a notorious elevated exit from the Bruce Highway yesterday, killing two men and causing traffic chaos.
The truck, heavily laden with timber, crashed through barriers cab-first on to the highway near Maryborough, 260km north of Brisbane, and ended up partly suspended from the overpass.
One of those inside survived the impact, but could not be saved by paramedics who worked frantically to cut him free. Traffic banked up for kilometres as two giant cranes were brought in to ease the shattered trailer off the overpass, and clear timber that had spilled across the tarmac.
The truck had exited from the north-bound lanes of the key highway at about 8.15am when the driver evidently lost control.
Locals said the Tinana exit was a death trap.
"It's the most stupid thing they've built," said Liane Kidd, who works at a nearby dance academy. "It's very deceiving. All of a sudden you've got to turn.
"If you're going 100km/h and you've got to go straight on to that road and then you have to do this sharp turn around the corner, it's ridiculous.
"I'm not surprised there's been an accident there."
The names of the victims had not been released last night.
Additional reporting: AAP
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