Tragedy on Bruce Highway
Ute slams into tree
A MAN has died in a horrific fiery crash on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville.
Police said the man, aged in his mid-30s, was travelling northbound on the highway when the ute he was travelling in left the road and crashed into a tree before catching fire about 4.40pm yesterday.
The crash happened at Damper Creek near the Cardwell Range, about 20km south of Cardwell.
Cardwell Police officer in charge Sergeant Stephen Gillinder described the crash as “high impact”.
He said witnesses, including an off-duty firefighter, attempted to free the man.
The firefighter was able to put out the fire using a fire extinguisher.
There were reports the ute was close to exploding.
Sgt Gillinder said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash.
He said Forensic Crash Unit officers from Cairns would investigate whether speed or possible mechanical failure had played a part in the crash.
He urged people to take extreme care when travelling on the roads in what has been a tragic start to the school holidays.
The crash happened about 5km from where Bingil Bay couple Gemma Cosgrave and Steven Arthur died when their car collided head-on with a truck in June 2019.
Their eight-month-old son was pulled from the car by Cairns truck driver Peter Lynch before it burst into flames.
Police would like people to take into consideration the extra traffic on the road in the school holidays and recognise the fact they may not be used to travelling long distances.
“They should take more breaks and also check the mechanical and roadworthiness of their vehicle prior to long-distance travel,” Sgt Gillinder said.
Police will today launch a road safety campaign, Operation Sierra Cold Snap, to prevent serious crashes over the school holidays.