A Queensland truck driver charged over a horrific crash that killed two train workers near South Australia’s border with New South Wales has been granted bail.
Key points:
- Kevin Pearson, 75, faced court charged over Sunday’s horrific crash with a freight train
- Train drivers Mick Warren and Kevin Baker were killed
- The Barrier Highway has since reopened with speed restrictions in place
The driver, 75-year-old Kevin Maxwell Pearson, from Hull Heads in Queensland, appeared via video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.
He was charged with causing the deaths of Port Augusta train drivers Mick Warren, 48, and Kevin Baker, 57, following a collision at a level crossing on the Barrier Highway at Bindarrah Station.
Mr Warren and Mr Baker were travelling west when their Pacific National locomotive was struck by Mr Pearson’s truck heading east towards Broken Hill at about 10:30am on New Year’s Eve.
On Tuesday, the court heard Mr Pearson had been working as a truck driver for more than 50 years prior to the collision.
Counsel for Mr Pearson said the driver had recently only undertaken occasional work while both he and his wife received pensioner support payments.
“He has no significant relevant history of offending,” Mr Pearson’s lawyer told the court.
“He’s a 75-year-old man who does have some health issues that he needs to attend to.
“He’s recovering from lung cancer, he currently has prostate cancer.”
Magistrate Karim Soetratma granted Mr Pearson unopposed bail on the condition that he reside at a caravan park in Port Pirie and report daily to police until his next court appearance in April.
SA Police previously described the collision scene as “horrific”, reporting that the almost 2-kilometre-long freight train had caught fire, and several train carriages had derailed and blocked the entire highway.
The Barrier Highway reopened late on Monday night with a 25kph speed limit in the Bindarrah area, which is expected to remain in place for the next three days.
Cranes from Adelaide were brought to the crash scene to help clear the wreckage over the main road that connects SA to NSW.
“But it’s also going to be a long process, and then also the road surface itself has also sustained damage, so in turn that will need to be inspected for safety,” Senior Constable Kimberley Broad said.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators attended the scene on Monday to examine the crash site.
The ATSB said investigators would examine the level crossing, the train and its wagons, “interview involved parties and any witnesses, examine truck and train operational information” and potentially recover components for lab examination.
Tributes continue to flow in for train drivers
In a statement on Tuesday, Port Augusta Mayor Linley Shine said Mr Warren and Mr Baker were “highly skilled” professionals and active members of local community and sporting groups.
“This is an unimaginable loss that will reverberate throughout the entire Port Augusta community,” she said.
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and work colleagues who have been left devastated by this tragic accident.”
Mr Warren was well-known in Port Augusta for his talent as a golfer, where he won multiple local tournaments.
Pacific National chief operating officer Patrick O’Donnell paid an emotional tribute to Mr Warren and Kevin Baker on ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday.
“There’s no doubt we are all feeling it across [Pacific National],” he said.
“It’s not something we wish upon anyone.
“We expect all of our employees to come home safely and unfortunately we had a tragic loss of life.”
Mr Pearson will next appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on April 17.
