9 February 2021

‘50 cars in 15 minutes': Passing motorists ignore woman calling for help over fatal crash near Batemans Bay

| Albert McKnight
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The crashed Prius

A woman has died after her car crashed down an embankment at Currowan on Sunday. Photo: South Coast Police District Facebook.

For about 15 minutes, a woman was ignored while trying to flag down passing motorists to get help for what would become a fatal crash outside Batemans Bay.

NSW Police said around midday on Sunday (31 January), a 68-year-old woman was travelling east on the Kings Highway at Currowan when her Toyota Prius crashed 12 metres down an embankment.

Police said the woman was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Canberra Hospital with serious injuries, but died in hospital today (1 February).

The tragedy was compounded when passing motorists ignored a nearby resident who discovered the woman in her crashed car. The crash site is in a mobile blackspot, and she was trying to get their assistance to call for help from emergency services.

READ ALSO ‘People are dying’: Fatal crash reignites calls to fix Clyde Mountain mobile black spot

Currowan resident Darrell Bossley, whose driveway is about 200 metres from the crash site, said he and his wife Lisa were at home with a friend on the day when they heard a crashing sound, so his wife went to investigate.

After a while, she still hadn’t returned, and he was preparing to find her when a stranger drove down their driveway saying Ms Bossley had sent him to call for help.

Mr Bossley and his friend went to assist, finding the crash site where Ms Bossley held the barely conscious injured woman’s hand and was trying to reassure her.

The car had crashed down a gully and couldn’t be seen from the road. Mr Bossley said his wife had struggled to find help from passing motorists, with about 50 cars passing her in 15 minutes despite being on the road with her car’s hazard lights on.

“She said she was standing on the middle of the road, trying to flag people down and they went around her,” he said.

“In the end, she got on her knees and they still ignored her.

“This lady needed medical attention, she needed it now and no-one would stop.”

The crash site

A woman has died after her car crashed down an embankment at Currowan on Sunday. Photo: South Coast Police District Facebook page

Mr Bossley said the woman had ACT registration plates and had told his wife she was travelling to see her children in Batemans Bay.

Owning the only property on the highway in the region, which is also in a mobile phone blackspot, the Bossleys have seen numerous crashes over the years. They have had many people come to their doors seeking help over a crashed vehicle.

“If it’s a rainy Friday afternoon you can nearly put a box of chocolates on it that there’s going to be a crash,” Mr Bossley said.

“This crash upset my wife more because she had to wait, and then waiting through people’s non-concern really upset her.

“When 50 cars go past a woman by herself on the highway, pleading, and just going around her, that’s pretty sad. That is horrible.”

While he has seen many crashes on the Kings Highway, he said in his opinion the road itself was of good quality, but he recommended motorists, in general, should slow down.

“Drive responsibly and have a bit more compassion for other people,” he said.

“If you see someone broken down or in trouble, stop.”

Mr Bossley thanked the paramedics and police who attended the scene on Sunday, saying they had done good work.

Original Article published by Albert McKnight on The RiotACT.

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Sadly, in this era there are people who will use a range of methods to car-jack, or steal a car. If one woman is on the side of the road waving down passing cars, there well could be an armed person hiding in the bushes and waiting to leap out and commit a range of criminal offences. There is also risk of personal injury to those in the car too.

The scene of this unfortunate incident is a little over 20 kilometres from Bateman’s Bay and drivers heading east would be keen to get to their destination as soon as possible and without delay.

I should guess that if this incident was visible from the road there’s a good chance that many would stop to lend a hand.

There are federal government programs in place to remedy mobile phone reception black spots and Eurobodalla Shire Council could play a vital role in pushing this solution forward.

Diane Squires3:47 pm 02 Feb 21

I can see both sides of this! Blame it on the idiots who flag a car down & if they stop they get carjacked or robbed or worse! I feel so sorry for Mrs Bossley who was trying to save the ladies life! Nobody is safe on their own in a car, whereas years ago you were safe even if you broke down, somebody would stop & help! 43 years ago my Mum & I were on our way to Sydney via Canberra, I had to get my son up there to go into hospital (he was 18months old) the car broke down outside Collector. We had 3 guys stop & push us into Collector in the dark! You won’t get that these days! I feel very sorry for the family of the lady & for Mrs Bossley! My heart goes out to both ladies! xxx

Denise Pappas3:15 pm 01 Feb 21

My sister had a horror smash three years ago in that area. She was trapped 12 hours overnight unconscious in the car. She was rescued in the morning when Toby a Bunnings delivery driver noticed trees down and clambered down the gully and survived with a severe brain injury. I find it totally sickening that people ignored the woman begging for help.

ALLISON CATANZARITI3:02 pm 01 Feb 21

The Bossleys have always help anyone they could all hours of the day and night. This incident has upset me herring first the passing of the poor woman involved. But these 50+ cars just going around her ignoring her time and time again is horrific. Should never happen anywhere but to happen here on our mountain has seriously upset me . I’m so sorry for Lisa that she had to go through this. Every second counts she did all she could.She comfortered this poor woman so she would not be alone.
The Bossleys are I consider our Guardians of the mountain and do what ever they can to help people. People who use our mountain if you see someone pulled over in trouble stop for crying out loud and help never drive past. NEVER EVER.
THANK YOU TO LISA AND DARRYL FOR ALL THEY DO.

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