IF THEY save the life of even one person, Yvonne Laegel and her friends will consider their time well spent.
Just before Christmas, a small group of mostly SES members teamed up to relaunch a program in the hope of reducing traffic crashes caused by fatigue.
Beth Suhr is among the founding members of the group and says the idea behind “driver reviver” is simple.
“If we can stop even one person from going to sleep and crashing into a car coming from the opposite direction, I think we’ve done a good thing,” Beth said.
“We are trying to stop people being killed by going to sleep while driving a long distance. We give them tea, coffee and biscuits and the chance to have a break.”
Premium Content
Subscriber only A DAD who had two children in the car when he was caught doing a burnout while drink driving has copped a heavy fine. Police saw smoke left behind by Anthony Tronc after he skidded his tyres on the Cunningham Hwy at Fassifern on October 2 last year. Ipswich Magistrates Court heard that when they pulled him over, he also blew an alcohol reading of 0.097, while on a P licence. Anthony Wayne Tronc, 30, from Kalbar, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle; and drink driving. Prosecutor Senior Constable Dan Swanson said police saw a large plume of smoke at an intersection and saw the car go past a parked truck.
Premium Content
Subscriber only
ABOUT $43,460,000 million in funding will soon arrive to fix Southern Downs roads but Warwick safety experts believe the cash could be better spend elsewhere.
Two local roads to reap intersection upgrades would be Cunningham Hwy between Gladfield Back Rd and Goomburra Rd worth $990,000; and Amiens Rd, Thulimbah School Rd, and Tennant Rd worth $240,000.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said the funding was welcome news for ratepayers as well as the “financial sustainability” of council.
It would also be a relief to regular users of the roads, he said.
“Obviously they’ve been identified by people over time for their problems and these two are the top of the list,” he said.
Premium Content
Subscriber only UPDATE, 8am: A man has been freed from the wreckage of his vehicle after colliding with a tree at Purga this morning.
Emergency crews reportedly worked to free the driver for close to an hour.
He has since been transported to Princess Alexandra in a serious but stable condition.
It is understood he suffered significant injuries to his legs and arms. INITIAL, 7am: A man in his 40s remains trapped inside a vehicle after colliding with a tree at Purga early this morning.
The serious incident occurred on Middle Rd, between Cunningham Hwy and School Rd, around 6.20am.
Premium Content A GOONDIWINDI man has been transported to hospital after a dog attack last night. Paramedics rushed to a Cunningham Hwy and Marshall St address following reports of a dog bite incident at 8.20pm. According to a QAS spokeswoman, the man in his 30s suffered serious injuries to his legs. The resident was taken to Goondiwindi Hospital in a stable condition.
Subscriber Exclusives