September 2008

Wildflower adventure ends in tragedy

Caravanning photographer killed in WA accident

A TRIP to West Australia's wildflowers ended in tragedy for a caravanning couple from New South Wales when one of them died in a road accident while taking photographs.

It happened after a 69-year-old man stopped his Toyota Hiace and caravan to take photographs of wildflowers near Shark Bay.

Police said he had pulled off Shark Bay Road and parked on the gravel verge. He was returning to his vehicle after taking photographs on the opposite side of the road when he was in collision with a Ford Telstra heading south.

His shocked wife could do little to help and the man died at the scene.

The mid-morning accident happened about 60km from Shark Bay.

A police spokesman said it was believed the caravanner did not see the approaching car.

The caravan rests on its side

AND in another accident in Western Australia, a burst tyre is thought to have been responsible for a caravan coming to grief south of Carnarvon.

Reports said the tow vehicle, a New South Wales-registered Ford Falcon, had a blow out on the front driver's-side tyre, causing the single-axle Adria caravan to roll onto the passenger side. No one was hurt..

Police said the type of hitch on the one-year-old caravan saved the tow vehicle from also rolling over.

Meanwhile, a Victorian couple leapt from their 4WD towing a caravan when it erupted in flames in New South Wales.

The caravanners were climbing Barrengarry Mountain south of Sydney when smoke began billowing from under the Mercedes Benz's bonnet.

Passing motorists rushed to help as fire crews raced to the scene but they were unable to save the tow vehicle.

The single-axle Jayco pop-top caravan was slightly scorched but nobody was injured.

The drama happened as Ken and Evelyn Pitson, of Bendigo, were driving to Moss Vale on their way to Hervey Bay in Queensland.

Mr Pitson thanked all the "total strangers" who stopped to give help.

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