Mum of Mueller Ranges cattle crash victim hopes drivers take note of freak accident that claimed his life

The mother of a man killed midway through a dream holiday crisscrossing WA in his 4WD hopes the “freak accident” serves as a reminder about the dangers of animals and wildlife on regional roads.

And she says everything should be on the table when it comes to addressing the state’s soaring death toll.

Perth man Rhys Dwyer’s Toyota LandCruiser crashed into cattle on Great Northern Hwy in Mueller Ranges between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing just after 6am on July 3.

The popular carpenter and builder, 34, who was known to his large Instagram following as Freddy James, died at the scene.

It was an untimely end to what had been the trip of a lifetime driving across the state. He was heading to Broome when the tragedy occurred.

The Major Crash Unit’s investigation is ongoing and there is no suggestion the incident was a result of driver negligence.

Dwyer’s mother Allison Walker said her son was an experienced and attentive driver who loved the open road.

She said she hopes his death serves as a reminder about the “freak accidents” that can occur in rural areas.

“People can become complacent — especially when you see a sign for cattle or kangaroos but then don’t see them (immediately),” she told 7NEWS.com.au.

“But the signs are there for a reason. Please be vigilant.”

Walker said it was clear more needs to be done to ensure drivers are safe or better prepared for unpredictable animals and wildlife in regional areas.

“Some of the roads are horrific with cows and kangaroos,” she said, adding she saw dozens of dead animals littered along remote roads during a drive from Perth to Cape York, Queensland, just last year.

She also shared with 7NEWS.com.au a picture of 15 cows that were killed by a passing truck near Broome just last week. The image was sent to her by a friend.

Data released by insurance company AAMI in June noted animal collisions had surged by 22 per cent in the past year.

Alarmingly, more than 40 per cent of Australian drivers say they do not pay attention to wildlife warning signs and six in 10 say they would dangerously swerve or slam the brakes to avoid hitting an animal.

“Paying attention to wildlife signs may not prevent an animal collision from happening but it will help you start preparing so you’re less likely to swerve in shock,” claims manager Leah James said.

“Swerving can mean losing control of your car and increase the chances of hitting a tree, pole or another vehicle, injuring yourself, passengers and potentially other drivers.”

WA is currently in the grips of a surging road toll, with 126 deaths recorded on state roads so far in 2024 — the most for this time of year since 2016.

Of those, 75 people have died on regional roads, including three in Carani, Roebourne and Lagrange in recent days.

The alarming regional trend is not restricted to WA, with new data highlighting it as a national issue.

Sixty-four per cent of Australia’s 1269 road fatalities in 2023 occurred in regional, rural and remote areas.

The statistics were shared by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) to mark Rural Road Safety Month in September.

The research showed 50 per cent of Australian drivers admit to unsafe driving on rural roads — including speeding, driving when fatigued and using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

“By choosing to put safety first and undertaking simple actions, such as planning routes, taking rest breaks, and avoiding distractions, we can prevent death or serious injury on the road,” ARSF chair Russell White said.

‘Need for change’

Walker, a mine site emergency services co-ordinator, was not part of Monday’s road safety summit in Perth where tighter P-plater restrictions, incentives for safe drivers, speed limit changes, and education in schools were raised.

But she said everything should be on the table.

“(These fatal crashes) are happening far too often. You’re scared anytime your loved ones go out because you don’t know if they’re going to come home, or even if you’re going to come home,” she said.

“If we don’t keep promoting the need for change, nothing will change.”

Road Safety Minister David Michael said the government is “committed to go away and review the suggestions” put forward during the meeting.

“I know there will be short, medium and long-term initiatives that emerge from today’s discussion but any change that we do in road safety or road rules has to be practical, enforceable, backed by evidence and make a difference — and we need to make sure there are not unintended consequences,” he said.