Nanango road deaths reach grim new milestone amid calls for change
There are calls for change after shocking statistics reveal the region’s roads have recorded the highest number of fatalities this year, with 13 people already killed and many more seriously injured.
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Nanango has this year taken the grim title of the state’s most deadly region for car crashes, with 13 people killed and many more injured so far in 2022.
Father of two Bryce Williams, 33, was killed while on an evening jog along Nanango Brooklands Road, while back in April John Hodges and Jess Madden were killed and a third man injured after a horrific crash on the D’Aguilar Highway between Nanango and Kingaroy.
The shocking statistics have drawn renewed calls for change, with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington saying more needed to be done to keep residents safe.
Mrs Frecklington said she would continue to push the State Government to commit to funding for highways including the Bunya, Burnett, D’Aguilar.
“State-wide, the backlog on state-controlled roads has blown out to $5.7 million, with the Auditor-General forecasting that our maintenance backlog would grow to $9 billion this decade,” she said.
“Our communities need confidence in their road network, to know they can safely travel to work, drive their truck to market, or send their kids on the school bus.”
The Queensland Police Service launched its statewide road policing initiative Operation Spring Break to crack down on dangerous driver behaviours and help ensure Queenslanders make it home safely these September school holidays.
A spokesman said police would conduct high visibility and overt patrols, speed detection and static and mobile random breath testing.
Darling Downs Health executive director Christopher Cowling said Kingaroy Hospital regularly treated people for injuries related to road traffic crashes.
“People present with minor symptoms or concerns, however there are also instances where we treat people with serious and life-altering injuries after a traffic crash,” he said.
“I acknowledge that accidents can happen in any situation, including on our roads, but I would like to echo the messages of our road safety experts and remind people to wear their seatbelts, don’t touch their phones when driving, don’t drink and drive, and don’t speed.”
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Originally published as Nanango road deaths reach grim new milestone amid calls for change
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