Drink and drug focus in roads crackdown
CAIRNS road police will be out in force over the holidays to target high-risk driver behaviour.
The blitz comes as a coronial report is prepared after a Kewarra Beach motorcycle rider died in Townsville Hospital.
The 53-year-old was taken to Townsville after being admitted to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition on December 20.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating circumstances surrounding the two-vehicle crash about 4.40pm on Thursday on the Captain Cook Highway, 100m north of the Holloways Beach roundabout.
Initial information suggests a black Suzuki GSX R1000 motorcycle collided with the rear of the vehicle in front before colliding with another vehicle and crashing into a road sign.
It’s understood he suffered “significant neurological injuries”.
Police will be targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, distracted driving, fatigue and failing to wear a seatbelt during a road campaign that will continue until January 3.
Queensland Police have conducted more than 2000 random breath tests, with 33 drivers charged with drink driving over Christmas, including an Aurukun man who allegedly recorded a blood-alcohol level of .173 per cent.
The alleged reading was the highest so far across the state.
The 27-year-old man has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on Pikkuw Street, Aurukun.
On Christmas Eve, Cairns couple Malcolm and Esme Beck died when they were hit by a blue Mazda SUV in Townsville.
The couple, in their mid 70s, were crossing Ross River Rd at TOTALS TO DECEMBER 25 Fatal crashes ............................... 1 People killed .............................. 2 Injury incidents ....................... 49 People injured ......................... 55 Mysterton, Townsville, about 7.10pm following the end of a service in a nearby church.
They had been visiting one of their two daughters, Annette THIS TIME LAST YEAR Fatal crashes ............................... 1 People killed .............................. 2 Injury incidents ....................... 86 People injured ....................... 120 Beck, in Townsville for Christmas. “It’s just a terrible tragedy,” Ms Beck said yesterday as she returned to the scene of the crash.
Townsville Police acting Inspector Steve Batterham said the couple had been hit by the SUV, which had been travelling outbound.
It is understood the daughter might have witnessed the incident.
Yesterday paramedics also attended the scene of a single vehicle rollover near Mission Beach, on Bingil Bay Road.
No entrapments were reported.