Man trapped as car rolls into culvert

6th September 2008

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An elderly man was rescued from his car after it slid and crashed into a culvert along the Dawson Highway yesterday

AN elderly man was trapped for more than an hour in his car at the bottom of a five-metre Dawson Highway culvert yesterday, after the Holden Commodore he was driving left the road and rolled down an embankment.

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) workers attended to the sole occupant of the vehicle as Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) workers cut the roof of the vehicle free to allow rescuers access.

He was then transferred to a stretcher and hauled to safety by QFRS and QAS personnel.

A QFRS vehicle stabilised the Commodore as it lay on its side in shallow water.

Rescuers used a ladder to access the five-metre deep culvert and bring the man to safety.

The accident happened about 9.30am yesterday and Queensland Police blocked the westbound lane of the highway for more than two hours as rescue efforts proceeded.

The lane remained blocked for several hours as tow operators retrieved the vehicle.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

The man was taken to Gladstone Hospital for observation.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon a single-vehicle accident involving a semi-trailer carrying grain, blocked the Dawson Highway 16 kilometres west of Scrubby Creek about 2.30pm.

The truck driver escaped serious injury, but Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service personnel attended the scene.

The truck had been recovered by 4.30pm yesterday, but Gladstone Regional Council workers were still on the scene clearing spilt grain and diesel fuel from the scene of the accident.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated.