Battle ahead for Coast dad
Serious injuries in crash
THERE are fears the Gold Coast truck driver who was involved in a head-on crash will never walk again.
Ben Nickell, 33, from Coomera, was driving home from work when a collision occurred with a car on Main Myrtletown Rd in Pinkenba, in Brisbane’s north about 1.45pm on Friday.
Mr Nickell was trapped in the truck for about 45 minutes until emergency services could free him.
The sole occupant of the car, who is believed to be a male foreign national, was pronounced dead at the scene. The car he was driving was almost completely destroyed.
Mr Nickell was transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with serious leg injuries. Co-worker, Jesse Langwoods, 23, was a passenger in the truck and suffered minor injuries.
Mr Nickell supports his partner of 14 years, Cassy Hewitt Scott, and their three children under the age of three by running his own concrete business NickellCrete Development.
Ms Hewitt Scott told the Bulletin yesterday there is a “possibility” he may not be able to walk again.
“Doctors did say if he did he will never be able to walk the same again. He will always have a limp,” she said.
“He’s got more operations and (is) needing skin grafts.
“I haven’t processed it yet. There’s going to be a long, long road to recovery.”
Ms Hewitt Scott is unsure of when her partner will be able to return to work
“I’m going to assume (he is going to be out of work) for months and months. It hasn’t really been spoken about but he has lots of surgeries ahead of him.”
Mr Nickell has been described as “very fit”, spending his free time training at Helensvale’s Fight World.
Danijel Baresic, who owns the training centre, started a GoFundMe page to help the family of five.
“I’ve spoken to him every day since the accident,” he said.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/b8695-goodman-down