Two people have died in crashes in the Mackay region last week, one on the Peak Downs Highway and the other north of Koumala on the Bruce Highway in horrific and confronting circumstances.
Tam Dixon Frewin died following a two-vehicle crash on the Peak Downs Highway at Strathfield, near Nebo on February 2.
Mrs Dixon Frewin was recently nominated for Isaac Citizen of the Year Australia Day award and was driving a 76-year-old patient from Mackay back to Clermont around 3:40pm when she was involved in a head-on collision.
She regularly transported elderly people from Clermont to doctors’ appointments in larger cities, which aligned with her profession as a health worker with Mackay Hospital and Health Service.
Mrs Dixon Frewin was only 44, and there has been an outpouring of community grief for the loss of someone with such an enormous heart.
She is survived by her husband and three sons.
Queensland Health director Dr John Wakefield has since sent communication to health workers offering counselling and support to colleagues of Mrs Dixon Frewin.
Police report that the collision was between a 4WD Toyota heading east and Mrs Dixon Frewin’s Honda Wagon heading west on the Peak Downs Highway, around 25klm west of Nebo.
The female driver of the 4WD Toyota sustained serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene to Mackay Base Hospital.
Mrs Dixon Frewin died at the scene, with her passenger sustaining minor injuries and was transported by road to Mackay Hospital.
Police have said the investigation will last roughly four to eight weeks, and they are seeking any dash cam or witnesses to come forward.
Another crash claimed the life of a 50-year-old Mackay man in a two-vehicle collision north of Koumala just two days later on February 4.
The crash occurred just before 10pm in another head-on collision, this time between a utility and a prime mover and trailer on the Bruce Highway, resulting in both vehicles catching alight.
The driver of the utility was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The truck driver, a 58-year-old Walkerston man, was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A resultant scrub fire, as well as the vehicle fires, were extinguished by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
The resulting fire almost entirely incinerated the truck cab, as well as heavily damaging the ute.
The highway was closed for several hours as emergency crew cleared debris and oil slicks, with one lane opening around 2:30am.
The Forensic Crash Unit is appealing for any witnesses or motorists with relevant dash cam footage.
RACQ CQ Rescue transported a driver to Mackay Base Hospital with serious injuries after a head-on smash near Strathfield last week. Another driver involved in the accident died at the scene and a passenger suffered minor injuries. Image: RACQ CQ Rescue
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