Marlborough truck accident victim 'loved her job' on the road
SHE was always happy and she loved her job.
That is how Gayle Balgowan, manager at the Marlborough Roadhouse, described the woman who was tragically killed while she was working as a road traffic controller at a section of roadworks near Marlborough on Wednesday.
Gayle said all the staff knew her as a regular customer coming into the store every morning while she had been working on the nearby patch of roadworks, and were shocked to hear of the accident.
Rockhampton Police Regional traffic co-ordinator Inspector Mike Curtin said the 64-year old Brisbane woman had been working on the same roadworks as her husband, about 500 metres south of the Perkins Rd turnoff, when the accident happened.
Inspector Curtin described how the woman was conducting traffic control on the southern side of the roadworks with northbound traffic approaching when a semi B-double struck her about 4.30pm.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and family have requested her name not be released.
"An investigation will cover all aspects of the crash, including environmental factors and issues pertaining to the truck itself, for a cause of the crash," Insp Curtin said.
The highway remained closed until about 9.45pm on Wednesday.
"I encourage people to be very aware of the roadworks, the speeds surrounding roadworks and the potential for issues to arise with vehicles and road workers in these environments."
Acting Sergeant Neil Lloyd-Jones from Marlborough police station said police, in conjunction with Workplace Health and Safety, were conducting investigations into the matter, and would submit a report to the coroner.
He advised that while the roadworks were in place at the scene, road workers wouldn't be returning until WH&S cleared the site.
"Even if there are no workers visible, the speed limits still apply for the road conditions," Sergeant Lloyd-Jones said.
The woman was a sub-contractor providing traffic control under an approved traffic management plan on a Fulton Hogan construction site.
Peter Kessler, chief operating officer of Fulton Hogan, said the accident was a great tragedy and the company would be working with authorities to find out the cause.
"Our sympathies are with the family at this time. Safety has and always will be a key priority for Fulton Hogan," Mr Kessler said.
Senior Fulton Hogan management are travelling to Rockhampton to support those involved and to help in the investigation.
"We remind motorists of the importance of driving safely when near construction sites."
