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Geelong truckie’s wife says she just want to give her husband a proper goodbye following fatal smash in WA

A Geelong family of a truck driver killed in a horrific smash in Western Australia has told of a hellish two month ordeal to get his body returned.

Sharron Bampfield lost her husband, Peter, in a truck crash in WA in April. Picture: Alison Wynd
Sharron Bampfield lost her husband, Peter, in a truck crash in WA in April. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Geelong family of a truck driver killed in a horrific smash in Western Australia have told of a hellish two month ordeal to get his body returned.

Peter Bampfield, 64, died in a collision with another truck on a highway in the Goldfields-Esperance region on April 12.

A sickening photo of the wreckage, seen by this masthead, shows the force of impact of the crash that killed Mr Bampfield, with the front of his truck completely wrecked.

His distraught wife, Sharron, has revealed the painstaking attempt to “bring him home” for a belated funeral, with a coroner only releasing his remains on Friday last week.

She said a “miscommunication” between WA police and the coroner was to blame for the delay.

“I have lost my mind over this,” she said.

“It has been horrendous.

Peter Bampfield who died in a truck crash in April. Picture: Supplied
Peter Bampfield who died in a truck crash in April. Picture: Supplied

“We have been through hell, absolute hell and we just want to bring him home.”

It’s believed obtaining DNA was an issue such was the ferocity of the crash, near Higginsville.

Mr Bampfield was a much-loved and respected truckie with more than 45 years experience on the roads.

His wife said he deserved to be laid to rest with dignity.

“He has taught so many truck drivers,” she said.

“It has been incredible how many people have contacted me recently.

“This funeral is going to be massive.”

Sharron Bampfield and her husband Peter who died in a truck crash in April. Picture: Supplied
Sharron Bampfield and her husband Peter who died in a truck crash in April. Picture: Supplied

She said the exact cause of his death was still unclear.

Detectives from WA Police’s major crash team spent hours combing the site of the two heavy vehicle collision, on the Coolgardie–Esperance Highway.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing.

The area has been a major problem zone for crashes, according to Ms Bampfield.

“That road he died on is horrendous,” she said.

“Other truck drivers have said the same.”

Ms Bampfield said she had been told there was a “backlog” of bodies due to a high number of crashes.

Mr Bampfield’s body is expected to arrive in Victoria on Friday night.

mark.murray@news.com.au

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Originally published as Geelong truckie’s wife says she just want to give her husband a proper goodbye following fatal smash in WA

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/geelong/geelong-truckies-wife-says-she-just-want-to-give-her-husband-a-proper-goodbye-following-fatal-smash-in-wa/news-story/efb3f70bb0c2040b14f97db1fba4876e