Mackay fatal crashes: Mirani electorate ranked among worst for road deaths

The heartbroken wife of a father who died in a horror fatal crash has described the ongoing “nightmare” as new details emerge about a regional town’s latest road death.

The heartbroken wife of a Mirani father whose life was cut short in a horror fatal crash has described the ongoing “nightmare” as new data ranked her region as the second worst for road deaths in the state in 2022.

While new details have emerged over the Mackay district’s most recent fatal crash.

Scott Burrage, 35, who was remembered as a loving husband and father of three young girls, died when a vehicle collided with his stationary 4WD off Mackay Eungella Rd between Mirani and Marian on March 20, 2021.

Kylie and Scott Burrage with their three girls.

His wife Kylie Burrage said the aftermath was an “absolute nightmare”.

New RACQ data has revealed the deadliest electorates in Queensland for fatal crashes with Mirani ranked at number two.

Of the 20 road deaths in the Mackay district in 2022, which has been labelled the worst year for traffic fatalities in five years, half have occurred within the Mirani electorate.

The latest in the tragic toll was a teen motorcyclist, who was killed after he and a truck collided on the Marian Eton Rd on September 10.

Emergency crews were called about 8am.

The 19-year-old Mirani man suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.

Emergency services raced to the scene of a serious truck-motorcycle crash near Marian on the morning of September 10. Tragically a 19-year-old man died at the scene. Picture: Duncan Evans

The teenager had been riding south and had come to a left hand bend.

Police investigations suggest he had drifted wide going through the bend into the oncoming traffic lane and into the path of the truck.

The truck tried to avoid the crash by moving left but tragically the two vehicles collided.

Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were an issue in this incident.

It is the fifth motorbike fatality in the district this year.

“In every (fatal crash) case we could say that these accidents should not have occurred,” Senior Sergeant Michael Hollett said.

The Mackay Forensic Crash Unit officer in charge’s message is consistent.

Mirani father-of-three Scott Burrage was killed in a crash on Mackay-Eungella road. Picture: Kylie Burrage

“The main thing is to get where you need to go safely,” he said.

For Kylie Burrage, her nightmare has been constant since the night her children’s father was killed.

A driver, Sefo Pau, is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while excessively speeding over the tragedy.

Mr Pau’s matters are currently ongoing in Mackay District Court.

“I’m still waiting for things to happen 18 months later,” Mrs Burrage said.

“It’s a long drawn out process for everybody involved.

“It’s a nightmare … and I’ve still got to deal with all the consequences.”

Mrs Burrage said Mirani’s ranking in second place was not a huge surprise and labelled the roads in her area as “shocking”.

“We call it the goat track,” she said.

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew. Picture: Melanie Whiting

“They kind of just patch up the roads which doesn’t do too much when we get heavy weather.

“It’s a common complaint among locals.”

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew said there were many areas “that need fixing”, adding he was constantly writing “to the minister about this”.

“It’s a sad state of affairs. We’re one of the major earners for the state,” Mr Andrew said.

“Those areas need to be maintained.

“There’s too much money being spent on the Olympics and all this pie in the sky stuff.

“What about all the stuff that needed to be maintained in regional areas.”

Mr Andrew said the onus was also on motorists to drive responsibly.

Originally published as Mackay fatal crashes: Mirani electorate ranked among worst for road deaths