Highway claims more victims



Friday 5 August 2011

Highway claims more victims

The Captain Cook Highway has claimed two more victims after an accident South of Oak Beach yesterday morning.

Two cars collided head-on at a notorious section of the highway with both vehicles sustaining major front-end damage.

A 60 year-old Cairns women was admitted to hospital for observation while a 43 year-old local woman who was treated at the scene.

According to Port Douglas Police, the accident was likely due to slippery road conditions after overnight rain.    

"The initial investigation looks like it's going to go that way," said Constable Dominic Varfis. "It doesn't appear like anyone is at fault...but we haven't finished speaking to both parties at this stage."

Constable Varfis, who was called out to yesterday's accident, said he has had prior history with collisions at that very location.

"I've been to almost exactly the same accident at the same spot - someone drifts onto the other the side of the road - it wasn't quite as bad, there wasn't a head on, but in more or less exactly the same spot."

As reported in The Newsport article '$463 million in FNQ road funding' (Wednesday 6 July, 2011) the State Government has committed $30 million of funding to fixing 77 kilometres of damaged sections along the Captain Cook Highway.

20 sites of the highway between Cairns and Mossman are currently earmarked for reconstruction works.

Other recent related stories:

The Viewpoint - Road works don't work