Another motorist has died on the unsealed section of the Broome to Cape Leveque road … just months ahead of work getting under way to bitumenise the surface.
A 31-year-old driver from Broome was pronounced dead at the scene after his Toyota Prado drifted to the wrong side of the road and crashed into an embankment before rolling and coming to rest on its side.
Four passengers, a 33-year-old-male and three females aged 23, 25 and 35, were treated for minor lacerations and shock.
Crash investigators are still probing the cause of Saturday’s single vehicle accident which happened approximately 20 kilometres north of the Manari Road intersection.
It comes just months after a similar accident in a similar area claimed the life of a 47-year-old man.
Main Roads WA is expected to start bitumenising the remaining unsealed 90 kilometres section of the 200 kilometre road next year as part of staged process of works expected to take about three years.
The Broome Cape Leveque Road is a local government road, under the care and control of the Shire of Broome and provides the main transport link through the Dampier Peninsula.
Main Roads says the standard of the unsealed sections of the Broome to Cape Leveque Road has gradually deteriorated over the years, with large lengths of the road becoming depressed below the natural surface.
“This has resulted in the gradual reduction in road width making it necessary for vehicles to negotiate steep banks in order to pass one another,” it says on its website. “Other sections are corrugated or have numerous sand holes making the road hazardous for drivers.”
Since personally completing the ‘Loop Road’ (28,000 km in nine months) I cannot count on both hands & feet the amount of times I have witnessed or been part of near misses…..
Just today it happened right in front of my eyes on Hwy 6 heading south from Charters Towers onto Emerald. There were two police escorts with lights flashing clearing the road ahead for 2 extra heavy and wide load vehicles. Getting right off the road I waited for the authority to advise me when to continue. Suddenly coming up behind me at a rate of knots was a 4×4 towing a Jayco camper which overtook me and almost collided with the Police escort waiting in the middle of the road!!!!
Finally waking up to the situation the driver threw out the anchors and stopped just in time!!!! What the hell did he think I was doing stopped on the side of the road for in the middle of nowhere. ..You I have to ask myself???
All the Police driver did was shake his finger at the stupid driver and continue on with his present job of escorting two (2) heavy & wide loaded trucks!
We started up this road in August 2014. We travelled about half the length of the un sealed section and decided to turn back. Vechiles past us in thick dust, were they could not possible see on coming traffic. Somebody overtook us in a ute who had an industrial type oven on the back of it. We still wonder today if he made it. The back of the ute nearly touched the road as he went of the corrugations we thought the oven might catapult to its destination. We have travelled many of the outback roads with no problems. This one beat us though we definitely felt unsafe both road wise and other traffic wise
We went all the way to Cape Leveque and enjoyed the area. Admittedly, the road was rough but if you want to see these places travel prepared. I would welcome the tarring of the road.
Only an hour ago as I was coming home to Busselton with my 21ft van behind , a car cut in front of us as I was exiting the roundabout on the by pass. I tooted the horn as it was a near miss. The driver dropped anchors and nearly stopped. Luckily I didn’t hit him. Shouldn’t I have tooted the horn? would he or she pushed me out of the way in the supermarket. I don’t think so. I am 6’3″ and 100 kg. People use their cars as weapons. Geez I’m annoyed at the arrogance of this person.
I would really like to have it out with this person and see if they are as brave without their car.
It’s a pity people put unrealistic time tables on their travels and drive with out any consideration for others on the road.
Rob; A dash cam would have fixed their little red wagon as it could have been given to the authorities who may act on their driving habits.