Man dies in freak kangaroo accident

Electric · 17-10-2006, 10:37 PM

Can't find this posted before, its from the Australian. Talk about wrong place, wrong time.

Tony Barrass
October 17, 2006

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...9-2702,00.html

A FREAK accident involving a kangaroo has claimed the life of a 50-year-old motorist in the south-west of Western Australia.
Police said yesterday that Maurice John McCredden, of Manjimup, 260km south of Perth, died from injuries he received when the kangaroo went through the front windscreen of his car last Sunday.

Police believe the animal was initially hit by a Toyota Landcruiser along the Muir Highway at about 4pm. The 37-year-old driver of the 4WD told police that the animal was thrown into the air and then slammed into a Ford Fairmont travelling in the opposite direction.

Police said that the animal went through the front windscreen of the car and into the back seat, causing Mr McCredden to lose control and crash. The kangaroo was killed on impact.

He was rushed to nearby Warren District Hospital and later airlifted by Royal Flying Doctor Service to Royal Perth Hospital, where he died of his injuries last night.

uranium_death · 17-10-2006, 10:42 PM

That's just really unfortunate and it doesn't matter whether the driver drove a Fairlane, Commodore, Lark or Stanza...it's tragic.

Condolences to family, and more Kangaroo for dinner!

TwistedEL · 17-10-2006, 10:49 PM

That is really trajic especially since he lived in Manjimup and would have been well aware of the Kangaroos, it must have been one hell of a smash, you must feel sorry for the driver of the 4wd too

WASP · 17-10-2006, 10:54 PM

Talk about being the the wrong place at the wrong time (both drivers and the Roo). Very tragic for all involved.

Smoked · 17-10-2006, 11:25 PM

Bugga. Condolences to his family, fell for the 4WD driver. Thats really unfortunate.

Outbackjack · 17-10-2006, 11:26 PM

First of all, my sincerest thought to the family that lost a father, brother, husband, uncle.... The list goes on. This is why I am very much against the cannon ballers using the NT roads for sports. If it can happen there, just think about the possibilities out here in the NT. Maybe the forum member who said that he would speed up if he saw a roo on the road might rethink his driving strategy. Very sad story. RIP, who ever you are.

BPXR6T · 17-10-2006, 11:32 PM

This happened to my friend Vlad a couple of weeks back doing 100kph driving from Queanbeyan to Canberra in his EB. Damage very similar to what you see there. He was very lucky to walk away from it with some scratches on the face. Very lucky.

Falcon Freak · 17-10-2006, 11:47 PM

I saw several dead kangaroos on the way to and from Bathurst. I heard that the dry weather is forcing the kangaroos to look for food along the side of the roads. The verges are green as the rain which falls onto the road will drain off either side thus causing a small concentration of water on either side of the road.

:

Condolences to the driver's family.

FF

Dezza · 17-10-2006, 11:49 PM

That certainly is a freak accident

Condolences to the family and friends of the deceased

Outbackjack · 17-10-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

I saw several dead kangaroos on the way to and from Bathurst. I heard that the dry weather is forcing the kangaroos to look for food along the side of the roads. The verges are green as the rain which falls onto the road will drain off either side thus causing a small concentration of water on either side of the road.

:

Condolences to the driver's family.

FF

I flew down to Adelaide about 2 weeks ago to pick up my daughters Vitara (first car) I drove back over night, against all my personal rules, I counted 196 dead roos between Adelaide a Alice. I count them as a game to help keep me awake. I gave up and took a nap at about 3:30am when a brumby ran straight out in front of me. Didn't even have time to put my foot on the brake, after that I cashed in my chips and pulled over a had a kip until daylight. It was only luck that I missed him, he missed me??

**Mechan1k** · 18-10-2006, 09:13 AM

I was lucky enough the other morning on the way to work to "nudge" a roo. Good thing I saw it further off in the distance in the scrub. I had already backed off considerably ... I lost sight of it for a few seconds ... then it jumped out in front of a truck (nearly taken out by that) ..... and then infront of me ... I was already on the brakes as it was ... just gave it a slight nudge with the nudge bar and driving lights (thank goodness for strong LightForce lights).

This was about 5am or just after that out near Wilberforce (just past Windsor in Sydney's NW) ... was around dawn .... first roo I have seen on my way to work Putty Rd in my 18 months out there.

Certain woke me up a little more ... but just goes to show .... it only takes a split second to it to happen ... and I was already on the brakes prior to it jumping out.

Lucky for me ... no damage (although if i hadn't had the nudge bar i'd be getting stuff repaired though).

csv8 · 18-10-2006, 09:13 AM

That must have been a big red, a wallaby wouldn't do that damage.

Grum · 18-10-2006, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

That must have been a big red, a wallaby wouldn't do that damage.

You think so? A dog moving at 100km/h will do that much damage. Luckily the roo was dead or they can make more of a mess when they panic and try to get out.