Fatal Car Accident in Main Street Hervey Bay
A driver was killed when his car collided with an oncoming vehicle and burst into flames on Friday night around 7pm.
The accident happened on Main Street near the foot of Ghost Hill (on the inland side of the hill). The driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Residents and other motorists rushed to the aid of both drivers but there was nothing they could do to put out the flames that engulfed the first vehicle.
February 12th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
so general, it makes it sound like it was his fault… LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS NOT!!! what really happened was the first vehicle’s (excel) tire burst, pushing it into oncomming traffic! the second vehicle (4×4) hit the excel fliping it into the the side of the road, the car was then engulfed in flames, and no one attempted to save my mate… the 18 year old male driver of the 4×4 (also someone i know) was air lifted to brisbane in a critical condition and is still in a coma…
it was a freak accident, no speed, no alcohol, from either party… it was just a freak accident… nothing could have stoped it…
R.I.P mate… we all love you so much… i hope you know that…
February 12th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Thanks for sharing the information you have regarding the accident.
There was certainly no intention on my part to imply that the accident was caused by your friend.
While this allows public comment I’m sure you will understand why I have deleted several portions of your comments.
And just because something is reported in a general way doesn’t mean that we don’t care and we haven’t felt the same pain when our loved ones and friends have been killed in motor vehicle accidents.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Stuart, I dont think your reporting in any way suggests anything in the way of blame etc, its completely non-judgemental.
I think this event has just hit a raw nerve. We drove past the point and saw the level of damage to the grass etc. Our first thought was that it must have been a freak accident. Im terribly sorry for everyone concerned, it must have been dreadful.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Thanks Milly - yes you certainly can feel the pain in ‘A Friend’s’ comment.
I appreciated their comment because it reminds me that there is always a lot of pain for those who are left behind and it doesn’t need to be made worse by a poorly worded account of the accident.
February 15th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I was one of the first on the scene and it was like something out of a horror movie,the images of the scene will stay with me for ever. Im so upset that the young man died but believe me no one could get within a couple of metre of the wreak because of the heat and flames and it was quiet obvious that he was dead without going into details,a bad situation to be in. I for one knew the other man was alive and also know coming from a rescue back ground it would of done him more harm then good trying to pull him out of the wreck without the apropriate equipment and training also putting more lives in danger, the only thing there was to do was wait for the rescue team to arrive and do their job which is what they did brilliantly and got your mate out. Mate im sorry your friend died but no ones to blame it just life and it sucks.Thank you for your account of events as this gives me alittle bit more clarity of what really happend. Please pass on my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this young man. R.I.P
February 16th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Chris thankyou for sharing your experience.
Being one of the first people on the scene of an accident can be difficult for those who have first-responder training. For anyone who has had no training it can be extremely traumatic and something that some people never come to terms with.
‘Did I do the right thing?’ ‘Could I have done more?’ ‘Should I have done this … or that … ?’ ‘Did I do something wrong … could I have done it better?’ are all thoughts that people struggle with long after the accident.
But at the time you don’t stop to think. When you’re untrained and thrust into that situation you either freeze or you react. Suddenly there are all those things in front of you that you never wanted to see and that nothing has prepared you to face.
It’s good to see you reacted in a way that minimised the risk of further injury to the one who survived the accident. Others may not have done the same thing.
And that’s something you should be commended for and you should take heart from. When you found yourself at the sharp end of life you did the right thing and that’s all anyone could expect of you and the others who were there first.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:35 am
The 18 year old who was killed was a really good friend of mine, in fact the best friend I’ve ever had. I’ve herd rumours.. Only rumours though that the other family is blaming Daniel for what happened (don’t know if this is true or not), that he was dragging (head ons don’t happen from drags people) and that he was drink driving.
This some what infuriates me a bit ya know, this is not some blaming game, lots of people have lost a loved one so have some respect. I know Dan and he would NOT drink and drive, he’s stayed sober many times to get people too and from parties, he was NOT dragging he was actually going to pick up his girl friend and he didn’t cause the accident as the witness’s have said so above.
He was the first person I would text to hang out with, I would drive with him for hours (cause we could never find any were to go) I know his driving, I know he didn’t cause this. Dan was a guy that literally only had his cloths and his car, he cared about every one else first before himself. Money and objects meant nothing to him, he was the best.
Living without him wont be the same, always up for any thing and out to have fun with every one. He deserved so much more but got so much less, so don’t even think of believing it was any ones fault, if your a friend of the Brice who is recovering quite well now I’ve herd, then support him and his recovery (hope he recovers ok, cant say knowing you were in a accident were the other person died is the best of experiences just hope he knows it wasn’t his fault) but blaming any one wont change any thing, it just cause’s unneeded grief and stress.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Wing - sorry but I’ve deleted your comment because it seems to relate to the accident that happened last night on The Esplanade … not this accident that happend back in February 2007
Stuart
August 12th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
This is a sad loss for all of the people in Hervey Bay it is was a unfortunate accident as we all live here and the real locals really stick together in a time of need,We all take life for granted and we should think about things a bit more ie Love your Family,Friends and maybe sometimes let things go ok take care all,Rob Dial A Driver