Fight to improve Grove intersection after Jake Kirkpatrick struck by car
Jake Kirkpatrick, who is a triplet from Mountain River, has come out of an induced coma after being struck by a car weeks ago. Now, his family don’t want anyone else to suffer the same heartache.
Tasmania
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The family of a teenager hit at a bus stop in a notorious Huon Highway intersection has shared their wish for immediate changes to prevent harm to local residents.
Mountain River 17-year-old Jake Kirkpatrick was getting off his school bus from Hobart when he was struck by a car along the Huon Highway in late February.
Jake was placed in an induced coma in the Royal Hobart Hospital’s intensive care unit with a traumatic brain injury after the crash and only recently has been able to come out of his coma, breathe on his own and speak to his family.
A Go Fund Me page set up to support the family by Jake’s aunt Tanya Denison says Jake is one of identical triplets and that he was with his brothers when the incident occurred.
“The little team of three who have grown and experienced everything together their whole lives were separated in a moment,” Ms Denison writes.
“We have been lost in a world of uncertainty, tears and beeping machines, we now realise there are so many people who also feel helpless and would love to help Jake’s family at this heartbreaking time, without intruding on the family’s precious moments together.”
The fund aims to support the family as they travel to and from the RHH and has a target of $15,000 and on Saturday had raised $11,700.
While the family’s main concern remains on Jake’s recovery, they are concerned for the safety of other school students, and pedestrians who frequently have to cross the three-lane highway with a 100km/h speed limit.
Speaking to the Mercury through family friend Jenny Cambers-Smith, the Kirkpatrick’s relatives say any upgrades planned for the intersection need to be brought forward for immediate changes.
“There are improvements in Jake’s condition, but there is a road of recovery ahead,” Ms Cambers-Smith, a former Huon Valley councillor, said.
“I think the family is more concerned right now about ensuring this doesn’t happen again.”
The Mountain River Rd and Turn Creek Rd intersection with the Huon Highway has been earmarked for upgrades for an extended period. It was listed in the 2021 Huon Highway Corridor Study as part of the $40m project. The state government also committed $3m to the safety upgrades at the intersection last year, a project which remains ongoing and is estimated to be complete in 2026.
“Residents have been complaining for 15 years about this spot, the dangers with the area are not new,” Ms Cambers-Smith said.
“We don’t need an upgrade in another year, we need an immediate speed reduction and immediate changes.
“The dangers of two bus stops with young children, a busy petrol station and bottle shop, a highway with a speed of 100km/hand two residential roads – something needs to be done immediately to save lives and stop accidents from happening.”
Ms Cambers-Smith said drivers were also at risk at the intersection, not just pedestrians.
A Tasmanian government spokesman said the Department of State Growth was “in discussions with Huon Valley Council” on initial concept designs for the intersection.
“The long-term solutions make the Grove intersection safer for pedestrians and road users, and council and the government will be meeting in the coming week,” the spokesman said.
“The $3m funding was committed last year, and if the final agreed designs require additional funding it will be explored through the federal government’s $40m commitment to the Huon Highway corridor.
“Immediate options to improve safety in the short term are being developed and assessed by the Department’s technical experts, with solutions expected in the coming weeks.”
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