Man saved in horrific collision was seven seconds from death
AN ELDERLY Dalby man is lucky to be alive thanks to the heroic efforts of bystanders who pulled him from his burning ute, only seven seconds before it exploded on the Wide Bay Highway.
Kellie Munn, her partner Josh Morris and 16-year-old son Dylan Morris were travelling to Stanthorpe yesterday morning when they arrived on scene to the horrific head-on collision between the man’s ute and a Pajero near Kilkivan.
A small bladed knife was used to cut the seatbelt so Josh and his son could free the man.
They also had to remove him from underneath the steering wheel.
Within seconds of carrying the injured man out of the car a gas bottle exploded and destroyed the car.
Ms Munn said she was incredibly proud of the men’s efforts to help rescue the injured.
“It was scary,” she said.
“It was a terrible head-on. Our first thought was that somebody is dead up here.
“The ute was engulfed very quickly and the next thing, we see the paddock is alight.
“We thought the fire would spread towards the other car, so we were panicking quite a bit.”
A woman in her 80s was crushed in the passenger seat of the Pajero for close to two hours with bones protruding from her legs.
She was airlifted to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition with serious leg and pelvic injuries.
Her husband was shaken but managed to escape the vehicle with minor injuries.
A woman in her 40s received minor injuries.
They were both taken to the Gympie Hospital in a stable condition.
Kilkivan officer-in-charge Hans Van Kempen said the bystanders’ actions saved the day.
“Outstanding members of the public who have come on scene first have been able to drag the older gentleman from the ute before it burst into flames and have assisted the other ones in the pajero until emergency services arrived,” he said.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the crash.