Double fatality leads to charges
Koah man to face court over crash death of his friends
A KOAH man will face court next week on serious charges following investigations into a double fatal crash at Mareeba last year.
About 6am on July 1, 2017, a white 1988 model Toyota LandCruiser left Davies Creek Road near Mareeba and crashed into a tree.
Kuranda man Mungalli Sheriff, 21, and Abel Friend, a 28-year-old from Mareeba, who police will allege were passengers in the vehicle at the time, died at the scene.
The Koah man survived the crash with minor injuries.
He was treated in Cairns Hospital before being discharged.
Now, almost at the one year anniversary of the single vehicle crash, the man has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.
He has been issued with a notice to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on June 12 following investigations by Cairns Forensic Crash Unit officers.
It is alleged he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Tributes flowed for Mr Sheriff and Mr Friend following the crash with their deaths described as a “dreadful loss to the community”.
Mr Sheriff was described as a passionate and talented musician who attended music festivals around the region.
Mr Friend’s sister, Aneata, took to social media to thank friends and family for their love and support during the difficult time. “Abel will forever be loved and live on in our hearts,” she wrote.
Mareeba Mayor Tom Gilmore had described the twin fatalities as a “tragedy”.
“It’s a dreadful, dreadful loss to the community,” he said.
“They will now have no chance to reach their potential in life and this waste of human potential is just something the community cannot afford.
“While the families grieve, remember that these young men have lost their lives.”