Four people have died on Queensland roads, less than 24-hours after police pleaded with motorists to slow down in a desperate attempt to curve the state's mounting road carnage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A man died after his vehicle crashed into a ditch on Williams Street, Kilcoy around 9:10am. He was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating whether the man suffered a medical condition prior to the crash.
Less than one hour later, an elderly man was killed in a single vehicle crash at Rainbow Beach when the car he was travelling in rolled down an embankment.
The male driver and his wife, who was the front passenger, were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, but the elderly man was trapped in the wreckage for more than an hour. The man died as rescue crews worked to cut him free.
An elderly woman who was also in the car was treated on the scene and later airlifted to Nambour hospital.
Two motorcyclists were killed, when they collided with a car at Wyreema, south of Toowoomba around 1pm.
Police, paramedics and an emergency helicopter were called to the wreckage on Karara Road, but the man believed to be the rider of the motorcycle, and his female passenger died at the scene. A woman and child who were travelling in the car sustained serious injuries.
Police are in despair, as Queensland's road toll stands at 173.
Twenty-four lives have been lost in accidents over the past two weeks - five lives were lost yesterday, including that of a two-year-old toddler.
An emotional Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Alan Davey yesterday said he was in dread of more people dying this weekend as people returned home from holidays or drove to Sydney for World Youth Day celebrations.
Mr Davey said while he did not have comparative figures, this July holiday period was one of the blackest for many years.
"Without doubt there will be more killed this weekend ... It is a bleak time on our roads," he told reporters in Brisbane.
"It has been an absolute tragic time on our roads and we are asking the public to please help us cut this road toll.
"Road safety really does start with each and every one of us. Wearing a seatbelt, not exceeding the speed limit, having a rest at least every two hours or when you feel tired and not drink driving are the basics of safe driving."