Popular dad killed in crash

Dalby couple Trish and Scott Bennett

Dalby Herald

DALBY woman Trish Bennett was in a critical but stable condition in hospital last night after her husband Scott was killed in a devastating crash at Jondaryan.

Oakey Police officer-in-charge Sergeant John Cook said police were seeking the drivers of two white utilities which were involved in the accident on the Warrego Hwy at 3.10pm on Wednesday.

Sgt Cook said a white utility travelling east on the highway turned right into the Jondaryan-Mt Tyson Rd at 3.10pm.

This caused a line of four cars and a B-double truck to brake suddenly.

Sgt Cook said the truck, which was about fifth in the line of cars, braked which caused it to jack-knife and move onto the wrong side of the highway.

The Bennetts' 4WD slammed into the prime mover.

"They may not have had any time at all to react," Sgt Cook said.

Mrs Bennett, 39, was helped out of the 4WD and taken to Toowoomba Hospital.

Mr Bennett, 46, was trapped inside the wreckage and pronounced dead just after 4pm.

Sgt Cook said police were seeking the driver of the white utility which turned right into the Jondaryan-Mt Tyson Rd, and a second white utility which was following this vehicle, to contact police.

"At this point in time it (the first white utility) isn't any more than a factor in the crash, rather than a cause (of it)," he said.

Wet road conditions require motorists to increase their safe following distance.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Oakey Police on 4691 1020.

Mrs Bennett sustained abdominal and spinal injuries and has undergone surgery for internal injuries at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

A hospital spokeswoman said she was in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit last night.

The couple's only daughter Ashlee is being cared for by friends.

It is believed the couple had just purchased the caravan which they were towing from Brisbane.

They were on their way home to Dalby.