Fatal Accident on Fraser Island

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 14:25
ThreadID: 140284 Views:10452 Replies:3 FollowUps:15
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Regrettably, another 4WD with four international tourists has overturned on Fraser Island, killing the driver and seriously injuring the three passengers.


ABC News report here.

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Allan

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Reply By: CSeaJay - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 14:57

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 14:57
Regrettable and sad.
Not wanting to start an online debate as to the cause but it if speed was not involved as a contributor I will be very surprised.
I truly hope those injured recover, and also hope that the authorities dont close or restrict conditions to the 98 percent of drivers doing the right thing.
It would be interesting to see the stats on what portion of Fraser accidents are by international tourists. It may prove something or the opposite of course, but nonetheless it will be telling
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Follow Up By: rumpig - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 15:21

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 15:21
Speed may likely be the cause, but with all the rain on the coast of late there's a good chance a washout may have been involved also, possible a combination of both those even....who knows, a tragedy for those involved whatever the cause.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 16:19

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 16:19
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10 years ago, following a number of vehicle rollover accidents which involved injury and death, the Queensland Government introduced requirements for 4WD hire companies to limit backpacker hire to tagalong with a company lead vehicle. This certainly was effective in reducing these severe rollover accidents and I have witnessed some of these tagalong groups driving conscientiously.

In more recent times I have seen single vehicles with what appear to be young international passengers.
Furthermore, in searching the websites of several Fraser 4WD companies I find options for tagalong hire but no mention that this is a requirement for backpackers. Perhaps the requirement is not proclaimed until the potential customers are within the premises? Or has that regulation been removed?
During my most recent visit a few weeks ago, I saw no tagalongs or young international tourists, but this was probably due to the Covid19 situation.

Certainly, speed is always a factor in any accident, but I observe most people obeying the 80kph limit on the Eastern Beach. Of the several rollovers that I have observed, it would seem likely that it was caused by turning too sharply while still at some significant speed. The wheel tracks suggested that the vehicle was swinging off the firm sand onto the softer sand up the beach. With the centrifugal force of turning, the front offside wheel digs into the sand and of course the vehicle rolls. However, I never did learn the 'official' finding of the cause of these accidents. It is a driving behaviour that most experienced off-road drivers would be aware of but I wonder if it forms part of the hiring instruction, or if it does, is it absorbed?

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Allan

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Follow Up By: Genny - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:33

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:33
Just because you CAN do 80 km/hr doesn't mean you should.
Washouts present with little to no warning, and can be present even during drought along beaches like on Fraser.Young men, particularly in company, and particularly in a foreign country often like to push boundaries.
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Follow Up By: Member - rocco2010 - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:39

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:39
Genny:

"Just because you CAN doesn't mean you should."

Best advice my late brother, a traffic policeman in WA, ever gave me.

It applies to so many things.

And in his role as an accident investigator he saw the consequences every day.

Sad story nonetheless

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Follow Up By: RMD - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:47

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 18:47
Allan is on the mark. I nearly had a head on with Europeans in a troopy. Approaching where you drive off beach to go over rocks I was driving near the water. A euro trippy flew from the rocks to near water edge and suddenly realised, not in Europe now. I slowed and he turned the wheel nearly rolling the vehicle with a "dig in" sprayed me with sand. Very close indeed. Psycho driving!
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 19:44

Sunday, Jul 26, 2020 at 19:44
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It is rather pointless to say that you don't HAVE to do 80kph.
If it is posted that 80 is the speed limit then it implies that it is allowable to travel at that speed unless there is a perceivable reason to do otherwise. If not, what is the point of declaring an upper limit. And of course you may elect to travel more slowly.
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Reply By: Candace S. - Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 11:32

Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 11:32
I thought Australia was closed to international tourists? Or is this out-of-date:

"You cannot come to Australia unless you are in an exempt category or you have been granted an individual exemption to the current travel restrictions."

Home Affairs COVID-19 travel restrictions
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 11:34

Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 11:34
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Candace, they may have already been in Australia before the border closure.
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Follow Up By: Candace S. - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 06:59

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 06:59
If that's the case, they were in the midst of what will be a very long holiday in Australia!
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Follow Up By: Banjo (WA) - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:12

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:12
According to the ABC they were all NSW residents, albeit 'British Nationals'.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:21

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:21
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Yes, Banjo is quite right. A later ABC News report has that information.
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Follow Up By: Candace S. - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:23

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 07:23
I was about to post that same link! All four in the vehicle were residents, not tourists at all.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 08:17

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 08:17
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Does that somehow make a constructive difference Candace?
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Follow Up By: OzzieCruiser - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 11:05

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 11:05
It provides an answer to her question :-)
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 19:34

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 19:34
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Ah, right, thanks for stepping in to help Ozzie.
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Follow Up By: OzzieCruiser - Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 21:56

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 at 21:56
No wurries, always happy to help :-)
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Reply By: Mark C9 - Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 15:55

Monday, Jul 27, 2020 at 15:55
we get used to the death toll as if its just another day
There was a multi fatality just upthe road as well
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