Man killed in horror truck explosion on Queenslands Bruce Highway revealed to be a twin brother
A young tradie who died when a chemical truck exploded after a horror head-on crash is being remembered as a beloved son, boyfriend and twin brother.
A young tradie who died when a chemical truck exploded after a horror head-on crash is being remembered as a beloved son, boyfriend and twin brother.
Max Joseph Rourke, 21, was killed when his ute collided with a B-double truck on the Bruce Highway, in Central Queensland, at around 5am on August 30.
His ute burst into flames after the truck spilled its load of ammonium nitrate and triggered a massive chemical fire near Bororen, south of Gladstone.
The 21-year-old, who ran his own roof repairs business, suffered life-threatening abdominal, leg, pelvic, head and arm injuries and died at the scene.
His heartbroken girlfriend Tasmyn Lynette said Mr Rourke had been her everything and more in a heartbreaking Instagram post last week.
Fly high my love. You will forever be missed not only by myself, but by everyone who had the chance to have you present in their life, she wrote.
Your smile and laugh was so affectionate, you brightened up every room you walked into. Ill forever be your skippy. My love, my light, my everything and more.
The tradie was described as a good friend to many in a funeral notice and much-loved by his father Anthony and twin brother Zac.
Max Joseph Rourke (pictured left) was killed when his ute collided with a B-double truck on the Bruce Highway, in Central Queensland , at around 5am on August 30
His devastated girlfriend Tasmyn Lynette (pictured right) said Mr Rourke (left) had been her everything and more in a heart-breaking Instagram post last week
Close friend Cameron Mcgrath expressed his shock at the sudden loss.
We were only just talking a few days ago. My snap bestie my Brother I just cant believe it at all… he wrote online.
A celebration of Mr Rourkes life will be held in the East Chapel at the Rockhampton Crematorium on September 13.
The 47-year driver of the B-double truck, who is from NSW, was airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital with serious injuries.
A Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the man is currently in a stable condition.
The chemical explosion with a 500m blast radius left an enormous crater in the Bruce Highway, which was closed for several days after the horror crash.
Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Steven Miles were forced to answer questions about driver safety on the highway.
Im very conscious of the need to do more, I want to work with the Queensland Government to make sure that we do more and well continue to have more to say, including [about] projects being accelerated, Mr Albanese said.
Mr Miles was forced to deny claims that funding for the highway had stalled.
The horror smash, which forced the highway (pictured) to be closed for several days, led to major concerns about the ongoing commitment to make the road safer for motorists
We have $6billion allocated to projects on the Bruce at the moment, I dont think you can characterise that as stalled, the premier said.
Some industry commentators would say thats more than our construction industry can currently sustain so we are investing a lot.
The Bruce Highway upgrade program began a decade ago in July 2013 and was scheduled for 10 years at a cost of $8.5billion.
The state and federal government agreed to spend $883million in a joint funding commitment to upgrade several areas of the highway.
These areas include Gladstone, Rockhampton, between Mackay and Prosperine, north of Townsville and the Tiaro Bypass.
