55 ROAD DEATHS IN 2019
EVERY road death that occurred in 2019 was a tragedy.
The unnecessary passing of our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters caused great trauma to spill into homes across the district.
As of December 23, the Department of Main Roads and Transport had recorded 55 fatalities in the Queensland Police Southern Region, which centres on Toowoomba.
While fewer people died in 2019 than in past years the number is still too high.
Many were innocent victims whose lives were taken by the actions of others.
Others were drivers who died in crashes caused by one of the fatal five.
These are the faces of our road death toll.
AS TOOWOOMBA residents take to the roads in droves for the summer holiday, they are urged to exercise caution so everyone gets to their destination safely.
This year 55 people have died on southern Queensland roads, from Gatton through to Charleville and Kingaroy to Goondiwindi.
The current 2019 total is one less than the road toll for 2018.
Inattention and using a mobile phone while driving were the leading causes of fatal traffic crashes in the past five years.
About 42 per cent of fatal crashes were caused by a distracted driver.
Speeding was a factor in 30 per cent of those deaths, drinking or drugs were a factor in another 30 per cent.
About 14 per cent of fatalities involved a driver or passenger not wearing a seat belt.
Here are some of the crashes that shocked the Darling Downs in 2019. Horror start
The year started with tragedy when Harold Lander, a doting grandfather, died after his van hit a tree on New Year's Day.
Mr Lander was returning a jumping castle to Crows Nest at the time.
Daughter, Tonya Elder, said he was loved by many.
“He was a funny old fella with the grandkids, tormenting them and laughing with them,” she said.
GPS blamed for death
A 16-year-old learner driver was killed in a single vehicle crash on a unsealed section of the Nudley Forest Rd after she was led astray by her GPS software, on June 6.
The girl was driving with her mother, 46, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was able to crawl free of the wreck.
The crash was on an isolated road and the mum waited about two hours before she could alert a passerby.
The teen was one of 11 to die on our roads in a twoweek period.
Three die in a day Sunday, October 6 was a tragic day after three people died within 12 hours.
An 18-year-old Southbrook man, Justin Moore perished after he was thrown from his Toyota Hilux as it rolled from Jimna Springs Rd early in the morning.
He was not wearing a seatbelt.
Neil Carey, a 70-year-old Emu Vale farmer died between 1.45-4.15pm when his bulldozer rolled while cutting fire breaks on his property.
Julian Braybrook, a 20year-old Toowong man died in a single vehicle crash at Lower Tenthill at 5pm after he lost control and crashed into a dry creek bed.
Police said speed was to blame after officers clocked Mr Braybrook doing speed in excess of 155km/h shortly before the crash.
Christmas tragedy
Two Lockyer Valley families were rocked when they lost loved ones two weeks before Christmas
Nine-year-old Zamuel Bennett was hit and killed by a van at Laidley on December 16.
Earlier, mother Julie
Thomsen, 36, passed away on Saturday night when she was struck by a vehicle while walking along the side of the Warrego Highway.
The driver fled did not stop, prompting a police investigation.