Mackay crashes: Three dead in separate road tragedies over 37 hours

‘Two mothers have lost their children on what’s meant to be one of their best days of the year’. Mackay region road toll spikes ahead of storms expected to dump up to 200mm.

Police are calling for witnesses and dash cam footage after a Sarina man was killed in a hit and run on an unlit rural road on Mother’s Day.

Investigations suggest Jordan Blanch had been walking along the westbound lane of Sarina Beach Rd towards Sarina when an unknown vehicle struck him.

Tragically the 27 year old suffered fatal injuries and died on the roadside.

It the third fatal traffic incident in Mackay in 37 hours, bringing the district’s road toll to 10 for 2022.

Senior Sergeant Trevor Robson said the vehicle involved left the scene “and had still not reported this to police” as of Sunday night.

Sarina man Jordan Blanch was tragically killed in a hit and run on Sarina Beach Rd on Mother's Day.

He said police believed Mr Blanch been shirtless and wearing shorts, and he was standing when the tragedy occurred between 5.30am and 5.40am.

The Mackay District Duty Officer said on Sunday it was unknown if it had been raining at the time, but it had been dark and it was in an unlit area of the road.

Senior Sergeant Robson said police wanted anyone with information or dash cam footage in that area around those times to come forward.

Investigations suggest Mr Blanch had been in the westbound lane when an unknown vehicle fatally struck him.

“We’ve had a number of people stop at the time but we’re still looking for a dark-coloured SUV that may have gone past and may have been involved or may have been a witness,” Mackay Acting Inspector Anthony Cowan said on Monday.

At this stage, no one has come forward and police are still searching for the driver.

Police were called to Sarina about 5.50am on Sunday after a man was found lying on the road. He is in a critical condition. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Police were unsure if Mr Blanch was standing or on the ground when the tragedy occurred because witness accounts varied.

“Evidence is that he may have been walking in the middle of the road and intoxicated,” Acting Inspector Cowan said, adding a driver had come across him walking in the middle of the road before he was struck.

“They beeped the horn and told him to get off,” he said.

“Then shortly after, a member of the public found him (on the ground) and then off-duty police on the way to work came across him and tried to render assistance.”

Mr Blanch died at the scene before police could help.

Police were also called to Sarina about 5.50am after a man was found lying on the road. He is in a critical condition. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Acting Inspector Cowan said only five minutes separated the driver who saw the man alive in the middle of the road and off-duty police arriving.

“The car might not have realised they hit a person if there was a person on the ground,” he said.

“They might have thought they hit a dog or an animal.

“There were a number of vehicles in the area and the only one we haven’t spoken to yet is a dark SUV.”

Emergency crews blocked all traffic on Sarina Beach Rd in the area for several hours as police investigated the scene on Sunday.

“We’re asking for members of the public if they were driving around at the time if they have any information or dash cam to please come forward,” Acting Inspector Cowan said.

It was one of two fatal traffic incidents in less than an hour on Sunday.

Mackay man Jacob Betts also tragically died at Racecourse at 5.05am following a collision between a motorbike and vehicle.

Senior Sergeant Robson said the vehicle – a Toyota Corolla – had been travelling northbound on Horse and Jockey Rd.

Jacob Betts was killed with the motorcycle he was riding collided with a vehicle on Horse and Jockey Rd at Racecourse on May 8, 2022.

He said the vehicle had been about to turn right onto Gibsons Rd when the motorcycle, travelling in the opposite direction, collided with its back passenger side door.

As a result Mr Betts came off the bike and suffered fatal injuries. He died at the scene.
A 20-year-old Eimeo man and 18-year-old Te Kowai woman, who were travelling in the vehicle, suffered minor physical injuries.
The 18-year-old woman was transported to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.

This is the third fatality involving a motorbike in Mackay district in less than three weeks.

A motorbike rider has died after a collision with a car on Horse and Jockey Rd and the intersection with Meadowlands Rd at Racecourse. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Acting Inspector Cowan said alcohol and speed had a played a role in the crash.

“About 5am (Sunday morning) a vehicle was travelling from Mackay out towards Horse and Jockey Road,” he said.

“As it was trying to turn into Gibsons road, it’s turned in front of the path of a motorbike.

“Unfortunately, the motorbike rider died at the scene and both occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

“It appears the motorbike was travelling at excessive speed and alcohol could be a factor for the driver of the vehicle at this stage.”

On Friday, Glenlee man Darren Holley, 50, died in a serious Bruce Highway crash between Mackay and Rockhampton.

A police spokesman said the single-vehicle crash occurred about 4.50pm near Heifer Creek Bridge, just north of Schnieder Rd, at St Lawrence.

Passers-by rendered first aid to the man, however he died on scene at St Lawrence a short time later.

Acting Inspector Cowan said police remained “unsure of the cause at this stage”.

“A motorcycle was travelling on the highway has veered off the road into a guard rail and unfortunately the driver was deceased on scene,” he said.

“Another driver came across it and called police.

“I believe he lives in Rockhampton and works a lot in Mackay.”

Police believe the man lost control and hit a guard rail on the road but investigations are continuing.

Forensic Crash Unit investigators are appealing for any witnesses or vision of a white and blue Honda motorcycle before the crash.

On Easter Monday a father and daughter riding on a motorcycle died following a collision at Koumala.

Hannah Atherton, 19, was the pillion passenger on her 60-year-old father Alan Atherton’s Harley Davidson as part of a birthday ride when tragedy struck about 10.25am on Monday April 18. Picture: Facebook

Hannah Atherton, 19 was the pillion passenger on her 60-year-old father Alan Atherton’s Harley Davidson as part of a birthday ride when tragedy struck about 10.25am, April 18.

Mr Atherton died at the scene while his daughter’s life support was switched off days later in Townsville Hospital. Her organs were donated.

The latest tragedies also mark a horror week for Mackay after Whitsunday 12-year-old Stirling Edwards-Bland died in a crash that seriously injured his twin brother Austin.

The pair had been travelling home from a swim meet in Townsville when the vehicle they were in collided with another vehicle on the Bruce Hwy at Gregory River.

Mackay District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Trevor Robson. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Senior Sergeant Robson said police urged drivers to be careful in the inclement weather “that’s going to be upon us in this coming week”.

“And to take care on the roads and to be observant of where you are and what’s going on around you,” he said.

“We also ask that you don’t go into flood creeks or rivers as this not only impacts yourself, but other road users and emergency service officers that attend the scene.”

Acting Inspector Cowan said police were doing every thing they could to curb the spike in the road toll.

He said there had been a high number of motorcyclist deaths across the state this year.

“Three fatals in three days is terrible, especially two on Mother’s Day,” he said.

“Two mother have lost their children on what’s meant to be one of their best days of the year

“It was a tough three days for police and for everyone involved too but certainly the victims’ families.

“And we’re about to come into a bad weather week with rain so if everyone can please be careful on the roads - we don’t want another repeat of this.

“For some reason motorbikes are exceptionally high in fatal (statistics) and to have two recently, please look out for motorcycles and motorcyclists be careful.

“We’ve had a higher number of fatals than we like to have, any number is higher than we want, so we ask people to be careful on the road.

“We are intentionally pulling over motorbikes to make sure they are not fatigued, make sure they are aware.

“We’re doing a lot of police work to stop the fatals but people have to take some responsibility and drive to within their means and look out for others

“There’s a lot rain coming … be careful with water on the road, invisibility on the highway, keep your lights on and if it’s flooded, forget it.”

RACQ CQ Rescue pilot Leigh Wilkinson said the three traffic-related fatalities in 37 hours was indicative of a horror surge in serious and critical callouts in 2022.

The Mackay-based rescue helicopter has responded to 18 incidents where people were seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes involving cars, trucks and motorbikes so far this year, which is double the nine for the same time frame in 2020.

RACQ CQ Rescue pilot Leigh Wilkinson said there had been a horror increase in call outs to serious and fatal incidents in 2022. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue

Mr Wilkinson said the alarming jump in senseless deaths and serious injury had a very significant impact on the loved ones of the victims, the community as a whole and first responders at the scene.

“For everyone who dies there are a huge amounts more who are terribly injured,” he said.

“The reality of being in a car crash is a terrifying experience if you are seriously injured.

“The path to recovery is often very long and painful, sometimes taking years.

“You are in serious pain. Your clothes will be cut off and you will be terribly frightened and traumatised.

“There is the chance of permanent disability. People can have spinal injuries and they’ll have ongoing treatment for the rest of their lives.”

Mr Wilkinson was among the RACQ CQ Rescue crew called to a fatal Peak Downs Highway crash that claimed the life of Tam Dixon Frewin (right) on west of Nebo on February 2, 2022. Picture: Facebook

Mr Wilkinson said the rescue chopper crew were also impacted by the horror scenes they witnessed.

“Memories and flashbacks, fatigue, mood swings can go on for a week while you process what you have been to,” he said.

He recalled attended the fatal crash on the Peak Downs Highway that claimed the life of Clermont health hero Tam Dixon Frewin on February 2, 2022.

She had been driving a client from Mackay back to Clermont when the vehicle was she driving and a Toyota Prado collided head-on. Tragically Ms Frewin died at the scene.

“Scenes like that are incredibly confronting – both of those vehicles were very heavily damaged. A person was just going about their work day and then their family’s lives are changed forever,” Mr Wilkinson said.

Originally published as Mackay crashes: Three dead in separate road tragedies over 37 hours