Community reeling after man, 54, killed in highway crash

UPDATE: The Stanthorpe community has been left reeling after a man died in a crash between a car and truck on the New England Hwy.

UPDATE: THE Southern Downs community has been shattered again with another local being killed on the New England Highway.

A 54-year-old Stanthorpe man was killed when his car collided with a semi-trailer at Dalveen.

The accident happened around 1pm yesterday afternoon near the intersection of Belmont Dve and the highway.

The 25-year-old truck driver escaped the crash without physical injuries.

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This was the fourth fatal accident on the New England Highway in just as many weeks.

Warwick and District Community Road Safety Group secretary Andrew Gale said they were devastated by another crash in the area.

"This can happen to anyone," said the former police officer.

"We all use highways every day and it could very well be our family, friends or neighbours in these accidents.

A man died when the sedan he was driving and a B double truck collided on the New England Hwy, south of Dalveen.

"We just ask that people please, please, please be careful on our roads."

Mr Gale said a number of the road safety members were previously in emergency services and understood how difficult it must be for those attending their fourth serious accident in 2014.

"We are extremely sympathetic to those and understand how hard it must be for them to attend these scenes."

Mr Gale was working in Stanthorpe yesterday and drove past the crash.

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"It was just terrible scene," he said.

"Here we are again, opening another paper reading about another fatality.

"In the last month it has just been ridiculous what's happening on our roads."

Mr Gale said everyone needed to drive extra careful.

"Next time it could be you or me."

The Forensic Crash Unit was continuing investigations at the time of print yesterday.

3.30PM THURSDAY: THE Stanthorpe community has been left reeling after a man died in a crash between a car and truck on the New England Hwy.

Emergency services were called to the scene, about 2km south of Dalveen, at 1.20pm.

The man's death bought the 2014 road toll for the stretch of highway between Warwick and the New South Wales border to four.

Warwick Patrol Group officer Inspector Ben Marcus said the collision between a B double and a sedan had occurred on a straight, flat section of the highway.

Insp. Marcus said the driver of the sedan had been killed while the male driver of the B double was in shock.

He said the truck was loaded with farm goods.

"It is very early in the investigation," Insp. Marcus said.

Both vehicles did not have passengers.

1.30PM THURSDAY: A truck and car have collided on the New England Hwy north of Stanthorpe, with reports of serious injuries.

The crash was reported about 1.20pm today.

The semi-trailer is believed to be transporting grain or fertiliser.

The crash occurred 2km south of Dalveen near Stanthorpe.

Emergency services are arriving at the scene.

Diversions are being established for motorists travelling near the scene of the crash.

Originally published as Community reeling after man, 54, killed in highway crash