Central Queensland is reeling after a horror few days on the road with five people dying in three separate incidents.
Mark Burgess, Acting Superintendent for the Capricornia police district, said the area's road toll had been zero for the year up until this week.
"So we've gone from zero to five in a space of 48 hours," Superintendent Burgess said.
"We just need people to take care. I cannot say that with any more conviction, take care on Queensland roads."
Yesterday afternoon a 30-year-old male motorcycle rider from the Rockhampton area died in a collision with a car in the city's CBD.
Three others involved in the incident were taken to hospital with injuries.
The same day, two people died in a single-vehicle rollover west of Longreach. It is understood the mother and son were travelling from Winton when they lost control of the vehicle.
The male 50-year-old driver died at the scene, while his 72-year-old mother died shortly after arriving at Longreach Hospital.
Longreach Police Patrol Group Inspector Julia Cook said it was a tragic situation, and fatal crashes in small outback towns often left a deep mark on emergency services.
"When you're living out in the country, it happens regularly that you do know the people involved," she said.
The incidents followed a crash on Tuesday when two men, also from the Rockhampton area, died in a head-on collision between two trucks on the Leichhardt Highway, south of Wowan.
The circumstances and causes of all the accidents are not known, however police are continuing investigations.
Tribute convoy planned
Mount Morgan local Brian Shaw, 64, and Rockhampton resident Steve Latimer, 52, both died in the crash on Tuesday.
Mr Latimer was a prominent member of the community and area manager for Clayton's Towing.
Family friend Kent Murray often attended crash scenes with Mr Latimer and said he was absolutely devastated.
"It just felt so surreal, like that's his job, and all of a sudden to be passed away in a truck accident I just find it hard to believe" Mr Murray said.
"I know a fair few of his friends in the community and they're still shattered like I am and [it just feels] like a dream.
"Many times he'd ring me in the night I'd ring him and … all those things are just gonna go away. That's what I find hard.
A tribute convoy is being organised for both men this Sunday in Rockhampton.
Troubled intersection
The intersection of Denison and Derby streets in Rockhampton, where the motorcycle driver died on Wednesday afternoon, was earlier this month ranked by motoring body RACQ as one of the worst intersections for serious crashes in the state.
The ranking was based on crash data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads for June 2018 to May 2021.
Rockhampton councillor Ellen Smith said the council was not able to comment if it had plans for the intersection until the police investigation into the incident was completed.
"We have seriously done a lot of upgrades in the last few years [there], but obviously we just have to wait to see the outcome of this investigation and then see what else we can do, and see what funding we need to try to apply for, to identify those issues and do any more upgrades if that's the recommendation."
Police urged all motorists to take care on the roads, and anyone with more information about any of the crashes, or anyone with dash cam footage, should contact authorities.
