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Qld road toll tops 200 for the year after Gold Coast crane death

Alex DruceNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Queensland road fatalities are on track to hit the highest in at least a decade, with the death of a crane driver on Wednesday night taking the toll for the year so far to 200.

Police said a 63-year-old Cedar Creek man was initially trapped when his Grove crane overturned on the Pacific Motorway near Helensvale at 8.30pm, with emergency services working to free him.

He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Crane
Camera IconThe crane reportedly rolled down an embankment off exit 62 southbound towards the Gold Coast Highway at Helensvale. Nigel Hallett Credit: News Corp Australia

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The man was the sole occupant of the crane.

Police fear the state’s road toll could rise above 300 by Christmas, which would make it the worst year for deaths since 280 were recorded in 2012.

“The reality is that these people had family, friends and co-workers (whose) lives have changed in circumstances that more likely than not, could have been avoided,” Queensland Police Acting Inspector Donna Stewart said.

“There are not enough police cars to be on every road all day. It takes you to make the safest decision for you, your passengers and other road users.”

Crane
Camera IconThe 63-year-old driver was fatality number 200 on Queensland roads for 2021. Nigel Hallett Credit: News Corp Australia

There are currently 14 more deaths recorded so far than at the same point as 2020.

The largest increase has been on roads across Brisbane, the state’s Southern region and North Coast.

Originally published as Qld road toll tops 200 for the year after Gold Coast crane death

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