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 Truckie was doing his best to avoid ute: police 

Truckie was doing his best to avoid ute: police

09 Jan, 2012 01:34 PM
A truck driver whose B-double crashed through a house at Urunga killing an 11-year-old boy yesterday was trying to avoid a ute on the wrong side of the road, police investigators have said.

The truck driver, a 51-year-old man from Queensland, was unable to avoid the ute and was forced off the road, hitting a house about 27km south of Coffs Harbour.

The ute driver, 38-year-old David Levett from Nambucca Heads, died at the scene.

Max McGregor, an 11-year-old from Penrith, was sleeping when the truck crashed into the house and killed him.

His parents, brother and two neighbours escaped with minor injuries and were taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital for treatment.

The truckie and his male passenger suffered chest injuries and also were taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital.

Mid North Coast Crash Investigation Unit officers are continuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident but do not believe speed was a factor.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone with information about the crash or events leading up to it and has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact the Mid North Coast Crash Investigation Unit on 6561 6018 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Just 24 hours later, a man and woman in their 20s or 30s died when their Toyota Rav4 veered off the Pacific Highway and crashed into a tree near Kew, police said.

Kew is about 150km south of Urunga.

The crashes have reignited debate about the safety of the Pacific Highway, with federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott saying he had doubts about the government's 2016 deadline to duplicate the road.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
And how many people were quick to blame the truck driver simply because you hate trucks ? You ought to be bloody ashamed of yourselves.
Posted by Rod Baldwin, 9/01/2012 7:32:44 PM, on Port Macquarie News
A car avoiding a ute a traffic accident, a 45 ton truck avoiding a ute - disaster! To improve safety the heavier the truck the lower the allowable speed. Not the truck drivers fault but the government for not legislating to save lives!
Posted by toastman, 10/01/2012 7:13:34 AM, on Port Macquarie News
Agree with Rod Baldwin. This poor truck driver has to live with this for the rest of his life. Stop laying the blame on him, he was trying his best to avoid a situation he did not create.

The ending was very tragic but not his fault.

Posted by wauchope las, 10/01/2012 1:47:08 PM, on Port Macquarie News
Its fair to say a dual lane/ by pass would have avoided this. The Highway thru Urunga is dangerous.
Posted by Fred the blogger, 10/01/2012 1:57:40 PM, on Port Macquarie News
The Honourable Mr Stoner M.P. - you are silent? Yet whilst in opposition you jumped up and down about the poor condition of our high-ways.
Posted by FixOurRoadsNow, 10/01/2012 5:37:28 PM, on Port Macquarie News
It is definitely a tragedy which could have been avoided, however, you need to look at one thing in particular-people are blaming the trucks and Government left right and centre.

Had the UTE driver had the sense to be PATIENT and drive to the conditions this could have been avoided. We need to stop pointing the finger and blaming everyone else. Truckies are sensible and professional drivers-the ones who give the others a bad name are generally the ones pushed harder and harder. Leave them alone and make people take responsibility for their own actions! Learn to drive safely!

Posted by Loz, 10/01/2012 10:01:42 PM, on Port Macquarie News
toastman, Maybe if we go back to the horse and cart days there won't be anymore truck accidents. Food for thought - The only reason there are lots of big trucks on the Pacific Highway is because people like you who live in places along the coast require things like food, petrol, furniture, electrical goods, news papers, building supplies, new cars, heavy machinery, spare parts and medical supplies. And i am sure you can think of even more stuff that gets to you on the back of a truck. Please remember that truck drivers do a hard job and are not all as brain dead as some people think.
Posted by Rod Baldwin, 11/01/2012 4:24:25 PM, on Port Macquarie News
So we have what appears to be human error, a utility vehicle on the wrong side of the highway.

And a truck driver who did his best to avoid an even worse result.

Posted by JohnT, 11/01/2012 6:55:20 PM, on Port Macquarie News

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The scene of the crash on the Pacific Highway at Urunga.
The scene of the crash on the Pacific Highway at Urunga.

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