45-year-old South Townsville man charged over fatal Gregory River crash
A Townsville man has been charged over the death of a 12-year-old boy in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.
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A Townsville man has been charged over the death of a 12-year-old boy in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.
Stirling Edwards-Bland, 12, from Cannonvale, died when police say a Nissan Patrol and the Toyota RAV4 his mother was driving crashed at Gregory River on their way home from the NQ Games meet in Townsville on May 1.
Stirling’s twin brother Austin and their mother Tracy were seriously injured in the crash.
Tracy was taken to Proserpine Hospital and discharged two days later, while Austin was flown from to Mackay Base Hospital.
A South Townsville man, 41, who police say was driving the Nissan Patrol was taken to Proserpine Hospital with minor injuries.
On Saturday he was charged with dangerous driving causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, and driving under the influence.
He is expected to appear in Proserpine Magistrates Court on June 27.
Stirling was a keen track and field athlete, with Tracy a coach and treasurer at the Whitsunday Athletics Club.
Athletics North Queensland posted a tribute to social media at the time of his death, saying he was a much-loved member of the club.
“Stirling has been a member of Whitsunday Athletics for many years and was a very active child, competing in a range of sports in North Queensland,” the statement said.
“He has travelled to a range of competitions in North Queensland and is known well by fellow athletes and officials.”
Stirling’s swimming club has rallied to make a memorial in his honour.
The Whitsunday community raised more than $11,000 towards the memorial.
This year, 133 people have died in crashes on Queensland roads, which is 19 more than the same time last year.
Of those deaths, 68 people killed were driving a vehicle, 20 were passengers, and 33 were motorcycle riders.
In the Northern Region, eight people have been killed in crashes since January.
Originally published as 45-year-old South Townsville man charged over fatal Gregory River crash
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