Mackay-Whitsunday Superintendent Shane Holmes calls for safer driving following four fatals

Following four fatal incidents within days, a Mackay-Whitsunday Superintendent has called on motorists to drive to conditions as the road toll climbs for 2024.

The BMA CQ Rescue chopper was called to a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway near Bloomsbury at Gibson Creek Bridge on October 28, 2024. Picture: BMA CQ Rescue

Police are begging drivers to remember the fatal five in the wake of four deaths within two days across the Mackay district.

In 2024 so far, 20 people have lost their lives from 16 crashes, four more than last year.

“Each one of these lives that was lost is a tragedy,” Acting District Officer Superintendent Shane Holmes said on Tuesday.

Most recently three men were killed in two separate vehicle incidents within hours, in a heartbreaking start to the week.

The Proserpine community is mourning the loss of two locals, aged 38 and 59, after two cane trucks they were driving collided on a Wilmar-owned farm at Bloomsbury.

The BMA CQ Rescue chopper was called to a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway near Bloomsbury at Gibson Creek Bridge on October 28, 2024. Picture: BMA CQ Rescue

Less than four hours earlier a 46-year-old Moranbah man died after the motorbike he was riding collided with a road train as it was turning onto the Peak Downs Highway near Strathfield.

It was the second bike fatality in two days - and fifth for the year - after Jofarn Tapim died when the motorcycle he was riding hit a cow on Sugarshed Rd at Glenella just before 2am on Sunday.

“My message is that all road users have a responsibility to drive safely and avoid those fatal five speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seat belt, driving tired or driving distracted,” Superintendent Holmes said.

“Each of these fatalities is avoidable and my message to all road users is it’s very important for each person to drive to the conditions.

“By doing so can significantly reduce the risk of a crash occurring.”

Superintendent Holmes said even one fatal traffic crash was far too many. Tragically there have been two crashes that claimed the lives of three people in 2024 already.

“There’s obviously a human impact on any fatal traffic crash,” he said, adding that flowed from family members to loved ones, friends and work colleagues, but also to “the emergency services, first responders that attend these things”.

The Mackay district had five highway patrol across Mackay, Sarina, Moranbah, Proserpine and Bowen.

“They are very proactive in the work that they do,” he said, adding the patrols were “intelligence driven”.

He said officers analysed “what we have in front of us at the moment” and determined if there were any gaps that needed more time and attention.

“We are in the areas where we believe that we need to be. Unfortunately, we can’t be everywhere,” Superintendent Holmes said.

Originally published as Mackay-Whitsunday Superintendent Shane Holmes calls for safer driving following four fatals