Calls for drivers to use ‘train brains’
WILMAR Sugar Australia have issued an impassioned plea for Hinchinbrook motorists to take care on the roads following a number of accidents involving cane or sugar trains and a shocking string of near misses.
The warning comes as Wilmar released photographs of the latest collision between a motorist and a cane train at a flashing light crossing on Hawkins Creek Road on Wednesday morning, revealing the extent of the damage to the sedan.
Herbert cane supply manager Lindsay Wheeler said it was fortunate no one was seriously injured.
“The car was extensively damaged while the loco in
curred minor damage and is undergoing repairs,” he said.
“Footage from the loco’s on-board cameras is being reviewed as part of investigations into the accident.”
Mr Wheeler, speaking before yet another collision on Saturday night, said the incident was the fifth collision involving a loco or cane train in the Herbert this crushing season.
He said four of the now six incidents were:
• In June, a utility collided with a locomotive at a cane rail crossing on a private road at Yuruga, south of Ingham. No one was hurt.
• In July, a cane harvester collided with a cane train at a crossing on Forrest Beach Road. No one was injured but both machines incurred sub
stantial damage.
• In July a cane harvester elevator clipped the top of a loco as the harvester turned at the end of a cane drill. There was only minor damage to the loco.
• In August, a car parked too close to a cane rail corridor in the Halifax area was clipped by a cane train. The driver was not in the vehicle at the time.
Ingham Police, meanwhile, have confirmed investigations are continuing into the cause of the collision between a cane train and a sedan driven by the daughter of a highly respected Hinchinbrook family.
Senior Sergeant Geoff Bormann said the collision occurred at train crossing on Hawkins Creek Road be
tween Dametto
Gangemis Road
Wednesday.
On her Facebook page, Kaitlin Venables thanked everyone for the flowers and messages of support, saying she had walked away from the accident with only a few scratches and bruises.
Parents Jarad and Karen, the namesakes of the highly regarded JK’S Delicatessen in Ingham, thanked “everyone involved in helping with Kaitlin’s accident”.
“To Wilmar Sugar, in particular the two people on the train, thank you for the comfort you showed our daughter.”
Mr Wheeler said there have several near hits at cane rail crossings this year.
“The most concerning
Road and at 7am on
these involve drivers trying to race trains at crossings in the Ingham town corridor,” he said.
“This dangerous behaviour puts the lives of both the motorists and our drivers at risk.”
Mr Wheeler said all its Herbert locos had front and rear-facing cameras and that footage of incidents and near hits was made available to police.
“With several weeks remaining until the end of the 2020 season, we’re appealing to all members of the public to use their train brain and stay safe around cane trains,” he said.
“Please approach all cane railway crossings with caution, obey all signs and signals, and always give way.”