Fed: Holiday ends in tragedy

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2009
Fed: Holiday ends in tragedy

By Kym Agius and Petrina Berry

BRISBANE, Dec 13 AAP - A tourist has died in a four wheel drive roll-over on Queensland's
Fraser Island just days after the state government announced it would relax vehicle safety
laws for the holiday hotspot.

The vehicle overturned shortly before 10am (AEST) on Sunday, when the driver swerved
to avoid an obstacle at Eastern Beach, north of the Dundaburra camping area.

A number of people were thrown from the vehicle.

A male passenger died at the scene. Three women and four other men were left with head
and limb injuries.

Two of the men, including the male driver, were flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Four others were flown to Hervey Bay Hospital with serious injuries and another person
sustained only minor injuries.

The group are believed to be holidaymakers from Japan and are all aged in their 20s.

The tragedy comes within days of the state government announcing changes to regulations
restricting the speed and number of people allowed in four wheel drive vehicles on the
island, to come into effect early next year.

The number of people allowed in a hired four wheel drives was to be reduced from 11
to seven by the end of the year but Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced last Monday
she would soften this to allow eight.

In addition, only forward-facing seats were to be allowed but now rear-facing seats
will also be allowed.

The laws were to be introduced by Christmas but Ms Nolan delayed the roll-out until April 2010.

She said she was willing to make concessions.

"I have listened to the concerns put forward to me by the tourism industry and made
adjustments, where possible, to balance their needs with the paramount need to ensure
tourists are safe when visiting Fraser Island," Ms Nolan said in a statement.

The amended laws are the second part of the response to a deadly roll-over on the island
on April 18, which saw two backpackers killed and another nine injured.

The speed limit on the beach was reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h shortly after the crash,
which killed 26-year-old Concetta Dell'Angelo from Italy and 22-year-old Ian Davy from
Skipton in Britain.

Between 2003 and 2007 there were 106 casualties caused by road crashes on the island,
of which 45 were serious.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told reporters in Kowanyama the accident was "a very
distressing start to the school holidays.

"We know that there will be many families that will be holidaying there over the Christmas
period.

"I just say to everyone, whether you are on the beach or on the road, please be careful,
be safe and drive safe."

Police Minister Neil Roberts said he felt for the families involved in the latest tragedy.

"This is an issue that needs to be dealt (with) through police and other agencies working
with the operators," he said.

AAP ka/sn/mmr/de

KEYWORD: ROLLOVER WRAP

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