The death of two caravanners in an horrific accident in Western Australia has once again sent shockwaves through the travelling community.
The couple that were killed on Friday when they were involved in a collision with a road train on the Great Northern Highway were not grey nomads. They have been named as Lara and Mark Dawson, 46 and 45, who were heading for a family getaway in Broome with their two teenage children.
The two youngsters were taken to hospital, but it is understood were not injured.
The accident, which happened about 150 kilometres south of Port Hedland, involved a road train, the family’s 4WD which was towing a caravan, and a third vehicle. A police spokesman said both the road train and the family were travelling in the same direction as a third vehicle was heading in the opposite direction.
Major crash investigators are still seeking to determine the exact circumstances of the accident but it is understood that, at some stage, the family’s vehicle was in collision with the road train. The road train was transporting cattle and, in the immediate aftermath of the accident, the cattle escaped and ran loose in the area. It is believed the road train driver may have been injured in the crash.
The dead couple have been described as active community members, and Perth Now reports that a GoFundMe page set up to raise money to help the two orphaned children quickly raised more than $10,000.
The tragedy comes at a time of growing concern about the number of accidents involving caravans, particularly as grey nomads are currently heading north in great numbers as they escape the winter chill in the south.
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Such a tragedy. My heart goes out to the two young orphans. It is such a busy section of the Great Northern Highway with quad ore trains and triple general freight and cattle trains on the go 24/7 and in that section of the highway from Auski roadhouse to Hedland there are 3 or 4 lots of bridge and road works. The ore trains are having a devastating effect on the road. Hopefully Roy Hill are footing the bill for the repairs.
I believe it will be inventiable that there will be a caravaners license of a time period to be introduced. A course to be passed & a weight of the van & tow veichle.
Angela this accident appears to have been caused by a road train driver according to a report in social media. In this case no extra driver training would have saved the 2 poor souls that have perished and left 2 orphans to fend for themselves because of if the report is correct, the actions of an impatient driver who it appears was bullying the vehicle ahead
Rob it is good to see that “social media” has all the facts. My understanding is that the police and other authorities gather the facts, write a report and present to the coroner. The coroner then decides who is at fault. Far too often people make comment that they know nothing about!
nothing against road trains but they do like to speed and hog the road always in rush