Cairns couple still haunted by 2022 head-on crash as Queensland road deaths rise

In June 2022 a bus veered into the path of Andy and Callie Rigby's ute on a bypass, resulting in a head-on crash that left both with minor physical injuries but deep mental trauma. The incident, which also injured the bus driver, has caused the couple to avoid major routes and to drive far left in their lane without conscious effort. Their story is set against a backdrop of rising road deaths in Queensland, with 194 fatalities recorded from January 1 to early August, a 10% increase over the same period last year.

Sergeant Scott Hayes, who has patrolled the Bruce Highway for three decades, described each fatal crash as “the most dreaded” part of police work and noted that the region continues to lead the state in road-death numbers. Police officials continue to focus on the “fatal five” - speeding, drink-and-drug driving, seat-belt non-use, fatigue and inattention - while a dedicated road-safety tactician reviews weekly data to guide patrols. Recent incidents, including a stolen ute crash on the same bypass that killed Savannah Spence Paige, have resurfaced the Rigbys' memories, underscoring the personal impact of the broader safety challenge.