Authorities formally accused a Townsville driver of killing his passenger in the Whitsunday region.
A 40-year-old man was recently charged with dangerously operating a vehicle causing death in Bogie, about 225km southeast of Townsville.
The suspect allegedly crashed his Toyota Landcruiser into a coal train at Peter Delemothe Road, near Thurso Road, at about 9pm on 11 July 2023.
“A passenger of the Landcruiser, a 50-year-old Townsville man, sustained critical injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the Landcruiser, a 40-year-old Townsville man, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Bowen Hospital and later airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital,” the Queensland Police Service said in a public statement.
“Two drivers of the coal train were not physically injured.”
Detectives previously invited anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward and shed light on whether the Landcruiser deliberately swerved around a boom gate into the path of the train.
“The driver’s decision to enter into a rail crossing that was governed by a boom gate and warning lights – which is obviously an offence in itself – have contributed towards the circumstances,” inspector Jeremy Novosel said according to the Australian Associated Press.
The operator is due to appear at Townsville Magistrates Court on November 10.
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