Emily Barnett’s family believe much can be done to make the Bruce a safer highway following her tragic death

A relative of a 21-year-old woman remembered as a “forever young” “ball of life” believe a four-lane Bruce Highway could have saved her from her tragic death in a head-on collision south of Rockhampton.

Adrian Barnett does not need the memorial alongside the Bruce Highway between Midgee Creek and McLean Rd to remember his eldest daughter Emily – he thinks of her everyday.

The father-of-four has maintained the beautifully carved and painted wooden cross surrounded by angels, flowers and fairy lights for more than three years for drivers as much as his 21-year-old daughter’s loved ones.

“It’s a message to other road users to be safe on the roads,” Adrian said.

Leyland and Adrian Barnett. Picture: Aden Stokes

Emily was travelling to Gladstone in her Toyota RAV4 with a friend when a Mitsubishi Triton travelling in the opposite direction crossed to the wrong side of the road on May 29, 2020, at Midgee and the fatal accident occurred.

Emily was pronounced dead at the scene and her friend was rushed to hospital, where she remained for some time after suffering life-altering injuries.

21-year-old Emily Barnett tragically lost her life in a crash on the Bruce Highway.

The other driver was New South Wales man Peter Martin, who was flown in a critical condition with extensive internal injuries and multiple fractures.

Martin, 58, was sentenced to six months prison, suspended immediately for two years, in Caloundra Magistrates Court in April 2022 after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention causing death and driving without due care and attention causing grievous bodily harm.

Emily Barnett's memorial on the side of the Bruce Highway at Midgee. Picture: Aden Stokes

Emily’s sisters Ashlee and Jordan and her brother Alex still mourn her death, and the family visit the memorial every year on May 29 at 3pm.

“I can distinctly remember everything that happened on that day, clear as day,” Adrian said.

It has been almost four years since 21-year-old Emily Barnett died in a horror collision on the Bruce Highway just south of Rockhampton.

“I guess it’s just burnt into my head.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. She was a ball of life.

“I think a piece of us died with Emily that day.”

‘THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO FIX THE BRUCE’

Adrian said sections of the Bruce Highway were “not fit for purpose”.

“The amount of deaths that have occurred, I think there’s got to be accountability,” he said.

“I feel sad for the families when the police officers come to their door to say their loved ones have been killed on that stretch of highway.

“We would like to see a good road through Queensland that can handle the posted speed limits.

The Bruce Highway where Emily Barnett was killed on May 29, 2020. Picture: Aden Stokes

“While that road is in that state it is going to keep taking lives.

“The only way to fix it is to fix the Bruce.”

Adrian said he would also like to see road safety messages on vacant billboards along the highway.

UNCLE, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR DESCRIBES EMILY AS VERY SAFE DRIVER IN UNAVOIDABLE SITUATION

Emily, an Alton Downs’ local and former South Rockhampton High School student, had been driving to Gladstone to check the mail at her house before tragedy hit.

He said his daughter’s death was “no fault of her own” and “something that shouldn’t have happened”.

Emily Barnett.

Her uncle, Leyland Barnett, who is a driving instructor, said “Emily was a lost soul” who “had her whole life before her”.

“She was a very safe driver,” he said.

“I actually taught Emily years ago.

“That situation was a 100km/h zone and the other driver swerved into Emily’s path.

“At 100km/h your reaction time is very limited so it wouldn’t matter how good of a driver you are, it would be very hard to avoid a situation like that.”

Google Maps image of the section of the Bruce Highway where Emily Barnett was killed on May 29, 2020.

Emily’s uncle remembers her as a very friendly person who got along with everyone.

“It was so tragic to have her life cut short,” Leyland said.

“She would have gone a long way if she was still alive today.

“We’d like the government to look at the Bruce Highway and repair it to a safe standard where people can get to and from their destinations without risking their lives.”

‘FOUR LANES COULD HAVE SAVED EMILY’S LIFE’

Leyland said audible centre lines could be an improvement made on the Bruce Highway, or upgrading it to four lanes from Brisbane to Cairns.

“The government needs to spend more money on the Bruce and start looking at the future,” he said.

“Why aren’t they building a four-lane road from Brisbane up to Cairns?

“If we had that four lane highway today imagine what would have happened.

21-year-old Emily Barnett tragically lost her life in a crash on the Bruce Highway.

“We could have saved Emily’s life, we could have saved heaps of people’s lives if the road was built to a safe standard.

“There needs to be accountability somewhere and I think Queenslanders deserve a better major highway through Queensland.”

Originally published as Emily Barnett’s family believe much can be done to make the Bruce a safer highway following her tragic death