A 26-year-old man who died in a head-on collision on the Bruce Highway on Tuesday has been remembered by his partner and friends as 'the kindest bloke' with 'the most contagious smile'. Andre Roberts was driving home from work when his Honda car was struck by an Isuzu truck travelling southbound in the northbound lane at Burpengary, near the Deception Bay Road exit, just after 10:30pm.
The truck driver, a 46-year-old Redcliffe man, remains in hospital in a critical condition. Police allege the truck was stolen from Hemmant on February 9 and was involved in minor criminal activity involving the theft of scrap metal prior to the crash. The truck hit a barrier near the weighbridge area, spilling stolen copper and other scrap metal.
Police received reports that multiple cars were chasing the truck before the fatal crash. Detective Inspector David Harbison said a Ford Ranger was found at a business in Narangba on Wednesday, suspected of following the truck in the wrong direction on the highway, but it turned off before the collision. The Ranger has been seized for forensic examination.
A 42-year-old man who assisted police with inquiries has been released. Inspector Harbison said the man worked for a business allegedly targeted by theft. No arrests have been made, and police do not expect any in the immediate future. He described the drivers pursuing the truck as 'concerned business holders looking after their properties', stopping short of calling it vigilantism.
Mr Roberts' partner and friends said in a statement: 'Our boy Andre was the kindest bloke around... he brought so much light and joy into everyone around him. He will be missed and loved dearly, and his legacy will never fade.' The crash caused hours of traffic delays on the Bruce Highway.
