Rollover prompts road upgrade push

A road train driver was lucky to emerge unscathed following a truck rollover in Wicherina which left him trapped in the cabin for more than half an hour on Monday. The two-trailer truck, which was carting sand, rolled after trying to turn right on to Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road from Valentine Road just after 9am. Paramedics and firefighters from Geraldton attended the scene after the driver, a man in his 50s, was trapped in the overturned cab. The man was eventually able to free himself from the cab, according to a St John Ambulance spokesperson, who said paramedics did not identify any obvious injuries. She said as a precaution the man was taken to Geraldton Hospital by ambulance for additional testing. He was discharged later the same day after hospital staff confirmed he only suffered minor injuries. The accident follows increasing pressure on the State Government to implement urgent improvements to the road ,which local councils say is an accident waiting to happen. In September, the City of Greater Geraldton voted unanimously to write to the State Government urging 11 improvements to the road as mining operations in the region ramp up. Deputy Mayor and Mullewa farmer Tarleah Thomas said she had driven the road for 20 years and seen it become increasingly dangerous as truck traffic grew. This proposal was later supported by Yalgoo Shire and Mount Magnet Shire, but the Mid West Times understands the coalition of councils is yet to receive feedback on the plan from Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. Main Roads WA spokesman Dean Roberts said the department had identified the need to widen Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road. “Main Roads has identified some opportunities to widen Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road between Geraldton and Mullewa as part of a Statewide road widening initiative,” he said. “It is expected that this work will commence in 2021-2022.”