SIMPLY AMAZING

Daughter’s tribute to truckie dad lost in a horror B-double crash

A TOWNSVILLE truck driver who tragically lost his life in a crash has been described by his daughter Tracey Payne as “simply amazing”.

“Words cannot begin to explain what an incredible person he was and how loved he is by all of us,” she said.

A TOWNSVILLE truck driver who tragically lost his life in a crash has been remembered as an “incredible person” and loving family man.

Steve Bowen, 64, of Gulliver, died when the B-double he was driving was struck by a semi-trailer travelling in the opposite direction on Tuesday night near Stuart, south of Townsville.

He had one daughter, Tracey Payne, and was a proud grandfather to her three sons Connor, Noah and Zac.

Ms Payne described her father as being “simply amazing”. “Words cannot begin to explain what an incredible person he was and how loved he is by all of us,” she said.

Mr Bowen’s cousin Karen Hillier fondly remembered growing up with him.

She said he was brought up in Finley, on the NSW border leading to Victoria Victoria.

“Later on in his life (Steve and) his parents, Ron and June, moved to Townsville,” Ms Hillier said.

She described Mr Bowen as a caring family man.

“He adored his grandchildren, he would do everything for them, and he loved Tracey too,” she said. “We were very cl close se and Stephen would have done anything for his family.

“If I told Stephen I wanted that CD he would go out and get it. We were favourite cousins.”

Ms Hillier said Mr Bowen had been a truck driver all his life and “loved his job”.

On his time off, she said he could always be found looking over to Magnetic Island from The Strand with a coffee and cigarette in hand.

“He loved Townsville. He was always on the beachfront on The Strand,” she said.

Dozens of people took to social media to remember Mr Bowen, with many talking about how good a man he was.

“RIP Stevie B you are a legend,” Matthew Walker said.

Rachel Leatherbarrow said, “so sorry for your loss Tracey and family”.

“Sorry to hear this, RIP Steve, thinking of your family & friends,” Chantal Louise said.

The driver of the semitrailer was taken to Townsville University Hospital with non-life threatening head and abdominal injures.

Steve Bowen with his grandsons Connor (left), Noah and Zac and (below left) with his cousin Karen Hillier and (below right) with his daughter Tracey Payne.