Karlie Brady

Journalist

 
Both lanes of the Captain Cook Highway have been reopened after a car rollover near Wangetti early this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover at 6:30am on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) said paramedics transported a male patient by road to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said police attended the scene and directed traffic.

“The vehicle was towed and traffic was flowing by 9:00am.”

The latest crash comes just over 12 hours after another single-vehicle accident on the same stretch of road near Ellis Beach late on Tuesday.

Four people, one male and three females, were lucky to escape injury after their car crashed into a tree around 5:50pm.

The QAS spokesperson said one passenger was assessed at the scene, however, appeared uninjured and did not require transportation to hospital.

The highway was cleared by 6:30pm.

Port Douglas Police Sergeant, Damian Meadows has urged all drivers to slow down and drive to conditions as, during wet weather, impurities and oils on the road can make it very slippery.

“It is still wet season so drivers need to be mindful and take 10km off their speed during wet weather,” he said.

“And increase the distance between you and the car in front because it takes longer to stop in the wet.”

Sgt Meadows also urged local motorists to check their tires as some accidents occur this time of year when vehicles find themselves aquaplaning.

Aquaplaning is when a layer of water builds between the wheels of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction that prevents the vehicle from responding.

“You don’t have to be doing high speeds to aquaplane.

“Everyone should check their tyres and make sure they have adequate tread, suitable for wet roads,” he said.