Police charge Manunda man, 49, after multi-vehicle Gordonvale crash in December left one dead

Police have charged a 49-year-old Cairns man after a multi-vehicle crash that killed a beloved White Rock man and left several others in hospital.

Aftermath of a December 8 crash on the Bruce Hwy in Gordonvale that left one man dead. Picture: Supplied

Police have charged a 49-year-old Manunda man after a fatal crash at Gordonvale killed a 26-year-old White Rock man and injured several others.

Police will allege the man was driving a truck along the Bruce Hwy through Gordonvale about 6am on Thursday, December 8, when he crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a Mazda BT-50 and Toyota HiLux.

The driver of the Toyota HiLux was beloved Cairns carpenter Jesse Rodman, who was trapped in his vehicle for an hour until fire and rescue crews could free him.

White Rock man Jesse Rodman, 26, was the fatal victim of a horror crash at Gordonvale on December 8. Photo: Facebook

He was transported to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after.

Mr Rodman was remembered by friends as a man of legendary character who acted with great kindness towards many people.

He had recently begun his own carpentry business.

Five others were also injured in the crash, including a 28-year-old Bungalow man who was driving the BT-50 and the 49-year-old truck driver.

All other patients, including the truck driver, were transported to hospital in stable conditions and later discharged.

The 49-year-old was charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and is due to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, March 31.

Originally published as Police charge Manunda man, 49, after multi-vehicle Gordonvale crash in December left one dead