Call for 'death trap' road to be fixed

Melinda Siegmeier | 11th July 2009

ANGERED: Monica was shocked but not surprised a man was killed while trying to cross Lion Creek Road, outside the Brothers Leagues Club on Thursday. She described crossing that road as a “death trap”.

JUST hours after Monica said she was surprised no one had been killed while crossing a busy Lion Creek Road, tragedy struck.

In a cruel twist, an 82-year-old man died when he was hit by a car at that spot in Rockhampton on Thursday night.

The man had just finished celebrating his birthday with his wife and family at the Brothers Leagues Club when they left about 7.10pm.

Before he crossed the road, he reached for his wife's hand so they could cross together.

But they were separated in the most heart-breaking circumstances, when he was struck by a north-bound four-wheel-drive utility which was towing an empty horse float.

The man was pronounced dead on scene, despite CPR attempts by the utility's passenger, who was a trained nurse.

The man's wife, 76, was not hit by the car, but she was pulled to the ground and suffered minor injuries.

She was taken to Rockhampton Hospital suffering from shock.

Police yesterday said this was the fifth fatal accident involving a pedestrian this year on Rockhampton roads.

Monica, who asked The Morning Bulletin not to publish her surname, said she was angry when she heard about the tragic accident.

She said for months she had been petitioning for a pedestrian crossing to be installed outside the leagues club.

Monica, 70, said she visited the leagues club every week for bingo.

She also brought two elderly ladies with her and said it was like a “death trap” trying to cross that road.

“Nothing has been done. It's like a death trap every time we cross,” she said.

“I only said yesterday that I was surprised no one had been killed there. It could have been one of my friends.

“It's sad that we have to wait for something tragic to happen before something is done.

“My deepest sympathies go to the man's wife and his family.”

Brothers Leagues Club manager Greg Lord agreed something needed to be done.

He said six months ago he met with a council representative to discuss installing a pedestrian refuge outside the club, but nothing had been done since.

“I want at least a pedestrian refuge so people can get half way safely,” he said.

“A lot of our club members are elderly, but it's not just for them - school kids, staff and people attending the showgrounds cross that road.

“My concern is with the width. It would be nice to see council look at it again.”

A Rockhampton Regional Council spokeswoman yesterday said Thursday night's incident was a tragic situation and the council extended their sympathies.

But she said until a formal investigation was undertaken by the appropriate authorities the council could not comment.

CQ regional traffic co-ordinator Inspector Mike Curtin yesterday said there had been an alarming rate of pedestrian deaths in the region this year.

He said there had been seven in Central Queensland with five of those in Rockhampton.

On February 7, a 10-year-old girl died on an unlit section of Belmont Road; on March 27, an 87-year-old man was killed while trying to cross Moores Creek Road; on April 2, a 31-year-old man died when he was hit on Main Street; and on April 30, a 27-year-old man was killed while changing a tyre on the Capricorn Highway.

The Central Queensland road toll this year is now 33, which is 15 more than for the same period last year.

Inspector Curtin said Thursday's incident was still being investigated and all possible contributing factors would be looked at.

I only said yesterday that I was surprised no one had been killed there