Soaring road toll sparks top cop’s plea to take care on Great Southern roads these holidays

Albany’s top cop is urging road users to take every care on Great Southern roads this holiday season as the State’s road fatality count soared over the weekend.

Officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Carlos Correia said there would be a bigger police presence on Great Southern roads in the lead up to Christmas and new year.

“We have our emergency services attending these fatals and serious crashes far too often,” he said.

“Yes it’s our job, but we are human and not immune to the range of emotions we go through before, during and after attending these gruesome scenes.”

Sen. Sgt Correia encouraged people to drive safely on Great Southern roads these holidays.

“We’re urging the public to take whatever care you need to not drive tired. Just like excessive speed, fatigue is a killer on our roads,” he said.

”Tourists and visitors need to understand the driving conditions of our expansive State.

“It’s not like any other roads or distances — we travel further here to get to our destinations so travel safely and take your breaks.”

The warning comes after a man in his 30s died on Mercer Road, near the intersection of Talyuberlup Way, about 8.15am on Saturday.

The man’s silver Toyota Kluger had rolled and caught fire, killing the man who was the sole occupant of the vehicle and sparking a small scrub fire.

A 64-year-old man died near Denmark on Saturday after his motorcycle crashed into a wall and tree on Scotsdale Road.

A woman in her 50s died after her Holden Captiva collided with a blue Scania truck about 11.40am on Sunday in Nippering, between Wagin and Dumbleyung.

The driver of the Scania truck, a man in his 30s, was unharmed.

The three road fatalities have contributed to a State total of 173, 15 more deaths on the road than in 2023.

In regional WA alone there’s been 100 road fatalities.

“Sadly, it continues to be a bad year for fatals and serious injury,” Sen. Sgt Correia said.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash, contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814.