Crashes heartache hits close to home
FEW know the face of human tragedy – and loss of loved ones – in the state’s fatal road toll like Cary Coolican.
The Cairns police sergeant was close to three of the 216 victims killed on Queensland roads this year. One was her brother.
“I’ve seen horrific sights,” the police officer, a mother-offour, said.
“(I’ve) heard many screams of anguish and held distraught family members as they identify their loved ones as a result of fatal crashes. The sad part is, I still see those images and hear those screams today.”
But nothing prepared her for the triple whammy of a very personal road trauma and death tally this year.
In a powerful message, Sergeant Coolican, 51, has broken her silence about her own private heartache behind the three deaths to urge road safety.
“We often talk of the ripple effect a fatal crash can cause in the community and this year, that ripple has hit me hard,’’ she said.
“Three people on our fatal list were known to me.”
To date, there have been 31 road fatalities in the Far North.
One was her younger brother, 48, killed early this year in a motorbike crash on the Atherton Tablelands.
“I never thought a fatal crash would claim him,’’ she said.
“He was flown to Townsville Hospital with severe head trauma and our family waited for signs of life. We rued results each time it wasn’t good news. After 19 days in intensive care, he passed in palliative care, our Mum by his side.
“As family, you relive cherished childhood memories, question why and ponder what could have been.
“You are left with heartache that remains for life and yearn for just one moment more to hold them and tell them how much they are loved.”
Sgt Coolican asked we not name the other two road crash victims – both teenagers in the bloom of life – out of respect for grieving families.
She had known one, an 18year-old lad, since he was a toddler with her son at family day care in Cairns.
The other, a 16-year-old girl, was a close family friend.
“When you think about how many lives these young people have touched at such a young age, you get a glimpse of the possibilities their lives would have had.”
Both crashes were double fatalities and saw two more young people aged just 17 and 19 years old, lose their lives.
“Back in March we saw four young men, two aged 19 and two 18 years old, die in a single vehicle crash at Tully. More young lives lost.
“As I scroll through the other names on our fatality list, I see the names of sons, daughters, mums, dads, grandfathers, uncles, aunts and friends aged from 16 to 90 years old.
“There are no words to console their parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, children, extended family, friends, teachers and acquaintances.
“The life of those who lose a loved one, will never be the same again and they will eventually learn to live with that loss as time goes on.
“I guarantee if every one of the 31 fatal crash victims had an opportunity to turn back time, they would in a heartbeat, but the harsh reality is, there are no second chances and what’s done is done.
“Fatal crashes can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.”
She said local police urged everyone to take extra care on our roads this festive season.
“None of us want to attend another serious crash, nor do we want to deliver yet another death message to a heartbroken mum, dad or other family member.”