REASONS WHY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING ALCOHOL AS CAUSE OF CRASH
ALCOHOL is being considered as a key contributor to a crash that claimed the lives of three men from Vanuatu involved in a head-on crash with a semi-trailer.
Police believe the trio and two others had earlier visited the El Arish Tavern and may have travelled south to Tully before heading back north when their mini-van collided with the B-double just after 2am on Saturday.
It occurred just near the Diggers Creek caravan park where they had been staying.
Consular officials are understood to be still trying to reach the Vanuatu-based family of the men, who are aged between late 20s and early 40s, although police confirmed they had spoken with a cousin of one of them who lives in Australia.
Cairns Forensic Crash Unit Senior Constable Lee Chamberlain said the scene was one of “utter devastation” when he arrived on Saturday morning. The Toyota Hiace has been destroyed with the driver’s side virtually ripped off.
A beer carton was visible near the passenger seat, while there was food, including bread, rice and raw chicken strewn throughout the vehicle.
Sen Constable Chamberlain continued an examination of both vehicles at a Cairns tow yard yesterday, including downloading data from the truck. He described it as one of the worst crash scenes he had seen in his career.
“It is a devastating scene and we are fortunate that there were not more people fatally injured as a result of the crash,” he said.
Two other passengers, men aged 24 and 35, were treated in Innisfail Hospital and released.
Sen Constable Chamberlain said, along with alcohol, police were also considering if the foreign driver had been on the wrong side of the road when the collision took place.
Police have called for anyone who saw either the group at any venues during Friday night or the vehicle travelling in the El Arish or Tully areas.
“Indications are that the collision took place wholly within the southbound lane of the Bruce Highway,” he said. “(The truck driver) is an experienced driver, he’s devastated ... and we are providing support and counselling to him.”