The employer of a fly-in fly-out worker found two days after crashing his work vehicle in remote Western Australia said the utility was due to have a tracking device installed next week.
Key points:
- Schlam Group’s chief executive says the vehicle Mr Walton was driving was one of the last yet to be fitted with a tracker
- Mr Walton’s body and the company vehicle were found on an unsealed access road 90km from Karratha on Thursday
- Schlam Group is assisting police with the investigation
Emergency services launched a land and air search for 33-year-old diesel mechanic Ambrose Walton after he went missing in the Pilbara region on Tuesday.
Two days later his body was found, along with his utility, crashed on an unsealed access road around 90 kilometres from Karratha.
Mr Walton, originally from Canada, was working for contracting company Schlam and regularly travelled from Perth to the Pilbara for work.
Schlam Group chief executive David Haslett described it as a “tragic accident” that had left people “shocked”.
“It’s a really tragic accident that’s occurred,” he said.
“We’re desperately wanting to know the facts behind how this could have possibly happened, and we’re doing everything we can to assist with that.”
Mr Walton had been staying at the Marandoo Mine Camp near Tom Price, 1,450 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Police said Mr Walton was planning to travel to the Brockman Four camp on Tuesday and also meet a friend in Karratha that same afternoon but did not arrive at either location.
Mr Haslett told the ABC the work vehicle Mr Walton was driving was one of the few within the company’s fleet without a tracking system.
“This was one of the last vehicles to be retrofitted with a tracking system, and it was scheduled to occur next week,” Mr Haslett said.
“Most of our vehicles now have a tracking system.”
Company assisting with investigation
The Major Crash Investigation Section is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Tom Price Police officer-in-charge Sergeant Chris Clelland has urged drivers to take care on remote roads, particularly ones that were unsealed.
“When we have rain or anything come through the Pilbara it affects the road, so any person using an unsealed access road must drive to the conditions and that means reducing speed and making sure you can see what’s coming up ahead of you,” he said.
Mr Haslett said Schlam would be assisting police with the investigation in any way it could.
“Once we have the investigation complete we’ll certainly be implementing anything that is identified to improve and minimise the risks of this sort of thing happening,” he said.
“Like everyone, we’re desperately shocked and we just want to know how this could have happened so we can ensure it can’t happen again.”
Mr Haslett said the company had reached out to Mr Walton’s family to offer support.
“We’ve been in touch with the family in Canada since Ambrose went missing, and we’re continuing to liaise with them,” he said.
Support is also being offered to Mr Walton’s colleagues.
“We have had counsellors available on site, and that’s an ongoing commitment we have to help people,” Mr Haslett said.
Police have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage, or who saw Mr Walton driving the single-cab white Toyota Hilux along Warlu Road or Roebourne-Wittenoom Road, between Karratha and Tom Price, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
