Billy Reeves: ‘Thoughtful family man’ remains in coma after catastrophic truck rollover

The family of a truck driver involved in a shocking rollover in southwest Queensland are praying that the beloved family man will soon wake up from the coma he was placed in a month ago.

The man involved in a shocking truck rollover outside Roma in 2024 remains in a coma, after the community rallied around his family to raise more than $50,000.

Billy Reeves suffered a life-threatening head injury in the crash at Crossroads Rd, Yuleba North on February 17 when the water truck he was driving rolled over.

The 46-year-old suffered traumatic head injuries and he was treated at the scene by company medics and emergency services.

He was then placed into an induced coma and flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

After doctors stopped a brain bleed, Mr Reeves was taken to intensive care before being moved to the neurology ward where he remains in a coma.

Following the tragic crash Billy’s family established a GoFundMe, which has raised $52,000.

Billy Reeves and his partner Danielle Beilby and daughters Violet and Lottie. Photo: Supplied

Family member Suzi Thurlow said Billy had made some improvements but there was a long journey ahead.

“He has been moved to the neurology ward at the PA hospital and has been there for about two weeks,” she said.

“We are seeing tiny progressions, nothing major, he is still in a coma and they are doing lots of therapy to wake him up.

“He will move his hand and his fingers and open his eyes, he isn’t speaking yet and there is still a huge way to go.

“Every brain injury is different, he has a traumatic brain injury so it can take months for people to wake up properly and until they wake up properly they can't assess the full damage.”

Ms Thurlow said it had been particularly difficult on Billy’s partner who had been staying strong for their children.

“It has been very hard on Danielle because she is spending hours in the hospital everyday and is away from work, all of his family has gone back to Ireland and she is still dealing with two little children who want to know how daddy is,” she said.

“She is dealing with their emotions and she has emotions of her own, we are all pretty worried sick until he wakes up because we don’t know how he will be.”

Ms Thurlow said she was blown away by the support and donations they had received from the community.

“It is just unbelievable in these times. Everything is so expensive and people have been so generous, it is going to go a long way but they need a lot more because we don’t know what the future holds for Billy,” she said.

“It is wonderful that everyone is helping and being so supportive we never thought we would get to this, we thought we’d get like $10,000-$15000, but that just goes to show how people love Billy, he is just a beautiful person.

“When he does wake up we won’t know what he will need such as ongoing surgery, or aids, or a modified vehicle we just don’t know, he will need rehab for months or years to come, we just pray everyday for a miracle.”

Donations can be made here.

Originally published as Billy Reeves: ‘Thoughtful family man’ remains in coma after catastrophic truck rollover