CHOPPER CREW ATTEND THREE HIGHWAY SMASHES IN JUST FOUR DAYS
May 16, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHOPPER CREW ATTEND THREE HIGHWAY SMASHES IN JUST FOUR DAYS
RACQ CQ Rescue has just taken off at 11.50am headed to scene of yet another car accident on the Peak Downs Highway.
Another two tragic deaths on our region’s highway were part of an incredibly busy weekend for our the region’s rescue helicopter crew.
RACQ CQ Rescue has undertaken nine missions since Thursday, including being tasked by Queensland Health to two fatal road smashes, the first at Carmila on Thursday night and another at Bloomsbury on Saturday night.
Today’s flight to the accident scene on the Peak Downs Highway today is the 223rd task for 2022. More details are to come.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked about 6.15pm Saturday to a single vehicle accident on the Bruce Highway near the Bloomsbury State School, about 87km north of Mackay. A Toyota Hiace with two occupants had lost control and smashed into a tree, killing the driver and injuring his 40-year-old female passenger.
The rescue helicopter landed at the BP Service Station just metres from the accident scene to meet ambulance crews and transport the seriously injured woman to Mackay Base Hospital about 8pm It was the second fatal accident on the Bruce Highway the rescue helicopter service was tasked to in just three days.
On Thursday night a man was killed at Carmila, about 80km south of Mackay, when his car collided with an empty bus just before 8pm.
Other missions over the weekend included the airlift of a critically ill tourist from the Whitsundays to Mackay, the airlift of two cardiac patients to hospital, a Townsville transfer for and two medical conditions.
RACQ CQ Rescue has already completed 223 mission in 2022. 2021 was a record year of tasking for the community-funded rescue helicopter service with 704 missions across the Central Queensland region.
{ENDS]
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182