An outpouring of tributes have followed the tragic death of truckie Daniel Stuart in a horrific truck accident at Maryborough, Queensland, on Friday night.
According to a police media briefing at the weekend, initial investigations suggested an SUV had turned right from a notorious intersection at Walker Street onto the Bruce Highway and collided with the truck heading south.
That truck was then shunted into the path of the northbound truck whose driver was also killed but has yet to be identified.
“As a result of that second collision, the two trucks collided and burst into flames instantaneously,’’ Maryborough Police Acting Superintendent Paul Algie said.
The driver of the SUV, local Sidney Marstella, was also killed in the incident. A woman and man in a ute and vehicle towing a caravan were also caught up in the crash, but the occupants escaped major injuries.
Stuart’s loved ones described the 50-year-old Kiwi as “selfless, generous and so caring”, saying the loss was “a light that will never be filled”.
Friend Tony Smith said Stuart had helped him so much, including to get his truck licence, joining him on his first run to Rockhampton.
“You helped me so much from getting my licence by coming in before your run to teach me how to drive, crash, box and being there on my first run to Rocky and sitting on the phone to me to keep me awake on those hard nights when I first started,” Smith wrote in a Facebook tribute.
“You will always be like a dad to me thank you so much for the kindness you showed me.”
Lily McGuire set up a GoFundMe page to support her ‘Nani’, Stuart’s wife Betty, who also made a tearful appearance on 7News shortly after the tragedy.
McGuire said Betty is battling breast cancer and caring for her great-grandparents and has the added stress of needing to find a new rural property to rent within the next six weeks.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has any dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.