Lives cut short: 27 Wide Bay-Burnett’s road crash victims mourned

Police in the Wide Bay-Burnett have been forced to deliver devastating news to families way too many times this year. As the road toll mounts, their pleas for road safety grows louder.

Just a few of the 27 beautiful lives lost to the road toll in Wide Bay Burnett in 2024.

Police in the Wide Bay-Burnett have been forced to deliver devastating news to families way too many times this year.

27 lives have been lost on our roads in 2024, cherished sons, daughters, parents, spouses and friends whose loss leaves an unfillable void.

Tragically, many of the victims didn’t have to lose their lives.

Bundaberg Patrol Group Chief Inspector Grant Marcus emphasised the devastating toll of road fatalities.

“Enough is enough – we cannot see any more people being injured or killed on our roads”.
“We don’t want anyone to be missing a loved one this Christmas season,” he said.

While last year’s 43 road deaths in the Wide Bay by October set a grim record, the 27 fatalities recorded so far in 2024 are still a sobering reminder of the dangers.

Sonja Pressler-McHugh

Sonja Pressler-McHugh

Bargara woman Sonja Pressler-McHugh, co-owner and manager of McHugh Steel, was killed when the Mazda CX-8 she was a passenger in crashed with a Nissan Pathfinder on Fe Walker St, Kalkie.

Sonja was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving the community mourning a respected business leader and friend.

The November collision was the third fatal crash in the region within three days, intensifying calls for urgent road upgrades, a stronger police presence, and improved driver safety measures.

Augustin Kalkandi

Augustin Kalkandi.

The tragic loss of 25-year-old Vanuatuan Augustin Kalkandi, affectionately known as August, left the Bundaberg community grieving.

A valued team member at Farmgate Backpackers, August was remembered by his employers as both a dedicated worker and a good friend.

The fatal two-car crash happened on Saturday night, November 23, at Windermere.
Friends, family, and colleagues are mourning the young man whose bright presence touched many lives.

Ryan Hickling

Ryan Hickling.

Ryan Hickling died in a crash between a Toyota HiLux and two motorcycles at the intersection of Cedars and Childers Roads at Elliott on the evening of Wednesday, October 30.

Family members shared that he was someone who loved the gym, motorbikes, and living life to the fullest.

Malcolm Anderson Langtree

Malcolm Anderson Langtree.

Malcolm Langtree, affectionately known as ‘Andy’, was killed on Sunday, November 17, when his motorbike was hit from behind by a car.

Police later arrested Ronald Joseph Madden in relation to the crash.

The tragedy left loved ones mourning a man known for spreading laughter and good vibes wherever he went.

Steve Loveland

Steve Loveland.

Steve Loveland spoke to his wife of 20 years on the phone at a service station south of Tiaro on July 16 while returning home to Childers from a two-week work trip.

Tragically, he would never make it home.
Just 30 minutes after the call, he was killed in a devastating crash on the Bruce Highway at Tiaro.

A truck travelling in the same direction collided with his motorbike near the southern entrance to the town, shortly after a 60km/h zone.

Steve died at the scene, leaving behind a grieving family and community.

Daniel Stuart, Sidney Marstella, Tim Hickey

Daniel Stuart.

A fiery crash on the Bruce Highway in Maryborough claimed the lives of three drivers.

Queensland police reported that the crash began when a 53-year-old Maryborough man driving an SUV turned into the path of a semi-trailer carrying a load of watermelons.

Sidney Marstella.

The semi-trailer then veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with another truck driven by Mr. Stuart. Both trucks erupted in flames, killing all three drivers at the scene.

A caravan and a utility were also involved in the crash, adding to the tragic scale of the incident.

Tim Hickey.

Josh Maddern

Josh Maddern.

Josh Maddern was confirmed as the 37-year-old man who died at the scene of a crash at the intersection of Airport Drive and Childers Road, Avoca, on Tuesday morning, February 14.

Mr Maddern suffered critical injuries when his motorcycle collided with a Subaru sedan at 5.12am, and paramedics were unable to save his life.

Joel Betts

Joel Betts

Tragedy struck during Joel Betts’ journey to Toowoomba when his Subaru Forester veered off the Bruce Highway at Kolonga at 8.16am on April 7.

The car collided with a tree, killing the 19-year-old.

Police investigators from the forensic crash unit said his vehicle had driven straight across a bend, clipping a road sign before spinning and crashing into a tree.

Christine Lyness

Christine Lyness.

Christine Lyness, a 39-year-old nurse, wife, and mother of two, was the victim of a tragic crash allegedly involving a stolen vehicle in April.

The crash occurred on the Fraser Coast and has left her family devastated.

Police allege a 25-year-old man, driving a stolen car at high speed and under the influence of drugs, caused the fatal accident that claimed Ms Lyness’s life.

Emma Louise Wilkins

Emma Louise Wilkins.

Emma-Louise Wilkins died on October 3 after she was struck by a ute in Hervey Bay.

Police reports state that emergency services responded to the intersection of Toogoom Cane Road and Pialba Burrum Road at Toogoom about 6.25pm.
Despite efforts to treat her at the scene for critical injuries, she was later declared deceased.

David Potter.

According to Wide Bay Burnett Forensic Crash Unit Sergeant Glen Rusten, Mr. Potter had been travelling on Burrum Heads Road towards Burrum Heads about 11.30am when the crash occurred.

At the same time, the driver of a white van was attempting to turn into a property on the road.

As Mr Potter rounded a sweeping curve, the two vehicles collided, and he was thrown from his bike.

He died at the scene from the injuries sustained in the crash.

Jade Micak

Jade Micak.

A three-year-old girl tragically died in a car crash on Lowmead Road, Rosedale, between Bundaberg and Gladstone.
The accident occurred around 7.30pm on a Wednesday in August when the Mitsubishi ASX she was travelling in veered off the road and crashed, coming to rest in a water-filled gully.

Tash Raven

Tash Raven.

In May, 43-year-old single mother Tash Raven was tragically hit and killed by a driver while walking home about midnight on a Saturday.

Friends shared their grief on social media, remembering Ms Raven as a “sun that lit up the room”.

Carli Fisher

Carli Fisher.

Carli Fisher, 32, was killed in a head-on collision near Gin Gin on Tuesday, May 14.

Carli, known for her vibrant spirit and deep love for her daughter, left her family, friends, and the community devastated by her sudden death.

On Tuesday morning, Carli and her nine-year-old daughter, Angel-May, were travelling along Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd on their way to school when their vehicle collided head-on with another car.

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In October, a 59-year-old woman tragically died after being trapped under a quad bike that crashed on a regional road between Bundaberg and Gladstone.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but the woman was pronounced dead after the accident.

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A 37-year-old man from Cinnabar tragically died after a two-vehicle crash in Silverleaf, near Murgon.

Queensland Ambulance Service responded to the serious collision on Bicks Road, receiving the call at 9.07am.

The man’s injuries were fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A man died and two other men were injured after a horror crash involving a wide load transport of a house which was under police escort at the time.

 

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A 17-year-old Bundaberg man was killed when his Kia Cerato crashed into a tree in Maryborough in September.

The car was driving east on Six Mile Road West, Glenorchy, when it left the road and crashed about 6.15pm.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

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A 59-year-old Gympie man was killed after a multi-car crash on the Bruce Hwy.

Investigations showed a ute towing a caravan was driving north on the highway near Bauple when a tyre dislodged and struck a truck driving in the opposite direction.

That caused the truck to hit a third vehicle, another ute, which was driving behind the caravan.

The driver of the third vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A 56-year-old Victorian man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Kilkivan.

The man was driving a ute along Blacksnake Rd when he crashed into a tree.

He died at the scene.

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A single-car crash claimed the life of a 41-year-old Koongal man.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the car involved in the single-vehicle crash on the Bruce Hwy at Takilberan, north of Gin Gin, was a red 2006 Holden Commodore ute with a roof top tent.

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Two people died in a single vehicle crash at Booubyjan on Friday May 6 at around 5.30pm, a black SUV was travelling south along the Burnett Highway when it crashed into a tree.

A man and woman died at the scene.

Originally published as Lives cut short: 27 Wide Bay-Burnett’s road crash victims mourned