A woman involved in road crash in the Bundaberg region that killed a seasonal worker has described the ordeal that landed three children in hospital.
Police say a van carrying five people collided with a ute at the intersection of Hummock Road and Elliot Heads Road at Windermere at about 7:25pm on Saturday, causing the van to roll.
A 25-year-old man from Vanuatu was killed.
The van’s driver, 33-year-old Reginold Toa, has been charged over the crash.
A memorial has been placed at the site of the crash. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
‘I was petrified’
Danica Slack was driving the ute and said she saw headlights coming towards her car as she was driving through the intersection.
Police say a van carrying five people collided with a ute at Windermere on Saturday, causing the van to roll. (Supplied: Liv Rehbein)
“I just felt the bang and felt us spin around,” she said.
“I heard the two girls screaming. I couldn’t hear [the boy] screaming, so that made me panic.
“I was petrified.”
The two girls, aged 12 and 4, were discharged from hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Ms Slack and the boy, 2, were discharged later that morning.
“I’ve got bruises all up my legs and cuts and glass in my eyes. My whole body hurts,” Ms Slack said.
The crash was being discussed on social media and Ms Slack said it was disappointing to see harmful comments.
“I’m thinking of the other families that were involved in the accident. I don’t wish for any negative comments aimed towards them,” she said.
“The other family is going through enough.”
Mr Toa has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.
He was granted bail when his matter was mentioned in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday and adjourned to February 10, 2025.
Call for patience
The death is the fifth fatality on the region’s roads in one month, which has left police frustrated.
Bundaberg Police Inspector Grant Marcus says police are frustrated by the amount of fatalities on the region’s roads. (ABC News: Nikki Sorbello)
Bundaberg Inspector Grant Marcus is urging motorists to exercise patience on the road.
“These fatalities could have been easily avoided,” Inspector Marcus said.
“We cannot continue at this rate.”
Inspector Marcus said the passenger had been wearing a seatbelt and there was no indication that alcohol was a contributing factor to the crash.
