Police progress investigation into cause of fatal Allora crash

Police have identified a range of factors that led to 21-year-old Toowoomba man Thomas Coyne losing control of his car and crashing at Allora

Toowoomba marriage equality campaigner Thomas Coyne died in a single-vehicle traffic crash on Sunday.

Investigators have identified excessive speed, fatigue and inexperience as the likely factors in a fatal crash that killed 21-year-old Thomas Coyne.

The Toowoomba man lost control of his vehicle on the New England Highway at Allora, about 11.50pm on Sunday.

His vehicle rolled several times before striking a light pole.

Toowoomba Forensic Crash Unit investigator Jon Reid said it appeared Coyne was driving well above the 70km/h limit when his vehicle rolled.

“The damage to the vehicle was monumental,” he said.

“Fatigue is also a factor, given the time of day.”

This, combined with Mr Coyne having only had his driver’s licence for a month, created the deadly conditions that led to the crash.

Senior Constable Reid is also looking into the vehicle’s condition.

“It will be thoroughly inspected for mechanical failure,” he said.

Mr Coyne was tireless campaigner for the yes vote during the same sex marriage plebiscite and ran for the Greens in Toowoomba South in the 2020 state election, taking on the LNP’s David Janetzki.

The Greens have established a fund to support his mother.

Since New Year’s Day, 83 people have died on Queensland’s roads, up from 54 at the same time last year.

Only a few hours before Mr Coyne crashed, three teenagers suffered serious injuries when the Toyota Corolla they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree at Wolvi.

Two 18-year-old men have since died.