The rest of the track out to the Development Road made its way through the trees with a few smaller climbs and descents and nearly all were rocky and a lot of fun. We camped for the night on the banks of the Little Laura Creek. My nephew left us here and made his way back home to Cairns. We had given him a good taste of 4WDing which he apparently enjoyed.
Our next destination was the east end of the Frenchmans Track for the east/west run. All was going well and we headed up the Development Road and then turned down the road to Portland Roads. The road was fairly corrugated and there are a few sharp corners so we're traveling at 60 to 80 k's/Hr. I've just rounded a Right hand right angle corner and heading up a small straight when over the UHF I hear my Sister say something which takes me a minute to decipher but it was " I've rolled the truck ". A quick stop and call to my brother who was ahead of us, over the radio to come back. We turned around and return to the corner and here is the Canter upside down just passed the apex of the corner on the road. A stop to let the wife out and continue around the corner and park in the middle of the road so traffic can see that I'm stopped on the road. On returning to the Canter they are all right but trapped inside as the cab is pushed down on the passenger side and the driver door is twisted so won't open and the window is jammed but a bit of help we get the window open. They are able to crawl out . My sister has been knocked around but no injuries, her husband who was passenger (it's her truck and she drives it) has a cut on his arm that needs stitching. By this time there are helpers around (some being nurses) and he is well looked after but is going to need medical attention. I went and collected my Canter and use this to right the other and pull it to the side of the road.
The accident was caused by a number of factors, road conditions being the major reason.This was a right angle corner with a washed out section across the apex of the corner.It also had a large dust hole on the outer edge where if you were running a little wide you would hit. Well you come out heavy (from inertia) on the wheels after coming through the wash and she hit the dust hole, Where the front wheel bit into the edge and laid the Canter on its side and then onto the roof. Speed was slow less than 60 k's. Remember this was on the road not on one of the tracks.
The Canter was picked up on a tilt tray and taken to Weipa where we spent the next week trying to solve the insurance. Yes it is a write off but we have purchased it back and will be fitting another cab which is all that is needed.
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The boat rack that we built before we left Gladstone, well it saved the camp box from damage but the poor boat took a bit of a beating.
Everybody is okay, that is what matters most.
Dan.
