It's not a good idea to hit a camel with a truck
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382412)
Rockingham, Australia
September 1, 2020 8:11am CST
I’ve just received word that my sister’s grandson hit a camel on the ‘Nullarbor straight’. (I’m not sure if he is my great nephew or my grand nephew.)
The ‘Nullarbor straight’ is the name given to the 90-mile stretch of the highway which crosses Australia from east to west. Ashley was driving a truck carrying 750 sheep when he hit the camel. The impact caused the truck to roll.
He was picked up by a rescue ‘flying doctor’ plane and taken to Norseman before being transferred to a major Perth hospital. He has hairline fractures of the spine and 16 stitches in his head. With rest, he should make a full recovery.
His brother, who also drives a road train, drove out the same road to assist with recovering the sheep and hit a kangaroo, which wiped out the headlights on his own truck. There are signs along the highway warning of the dangers posed by feral camels, kangaroos and other livestock.
Thankfully, Ashley should recover and be back driving his truck again soon.
The photo is of a sign that marks the beginning of the 90-mile straight.
26 people like this
25 responses
@snowy22315 (209121)
• United States
1 Sep 20
Too bad about your nephew! How many gas stations are on it?
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (49775)
• India
3 Sep 20
So this Highway is quite dangerous to drive! Aren't there any speed limit or Go slow warnings anywhere on the Highway?
Accident Prone areas should perhaps have some Traffic police person doing some checks to help avoid accidents.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49775)
• India
4 Sep 20
@JudyEv
So one has to be very careful on the whole stretch? But that is sometimes not possible as one cannot always drive slowly.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174657)
• United States
7 Sep 20
Grand nephew and great nephew mean the same thing.
I'm glad Ashley will be alright.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174657)
• United States
7 Sep 20
@JudyEv You're welcome. I'm happy I could help.
You might suggest he try playing the lottery or something similar, Judy. *grinning and teasing you*
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128840)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Sep 20
Hitting deer on the road is a major problem here in the area where I live, especially right at dusk and dawn when they are most active. And unfortunately, hitting a deer (or a kangaroo or camel or other large animal) can do some pretty serious damage to your vehicle, as I'm sure Ashley found out the hard way.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128840)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Sep 20
@JudyEv You would think it would be easier to spot them in the distance and therefore easier to avoid, but if a camel comes charging into the road out of nowhere, well there's not much you can do at that point.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 20
@moffittjc It's called 'desert' quite often but is really a plain and mostly covered in low scrub. If you're watching the road it would be easy to miss stuff at the sides. All these animals seem to camouflage well too.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
1 Sep 20
wow, glad he will be ok not a small animal for sure.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
2 Sep 20
@JudyEv we went to Maine last year, there was a sign that said 10,000 deer hit by cars (which is sad) in Maine but only 480 moose hit by car.
then the other stat
10,000 deer hit by cars 3000 deer die
800 cars are totaled
moose hit car 10 die
all 480 cars are totaled
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Sep 20
@DocAndersen Occasionally a kangaroo slides through the windshield and into the vehicle. They then proceed to thrash around and can totally wreck the lining and seats.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
1 Sep 20
Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry. The perils of driving in Australia. I hope he heals quickly. Have a great Wednesday.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
6 Sep 20
Wow! That's one dangerous stretch of roadway... I had no idea camels were in Australia 
1 person likes this
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
1 Sep 20
This street is so popular. I ever read a joke that people can drive off hand or while sleeping in here.
Yeah, there so many feral camels in aussie. Stay safe
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
1 Sep 20
Oh my God, it sounds like a huge accident. Thank God your sister's grandson is now at a hospital where he can be taken care of.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
2 Sep 20
@JudyEv totally Judy! Hope he gets well soon!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
4 Sep 20
That would be terrible to hit the camel
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
1 Sep 20
Oh my, that was such distressing news for you to hear. I'm praying that both boys will recover quickly.
1 person likes this
@Lavanya15 (12888)
• Chennai, India
1 Sep 20
So sad to hear, hope both are safe in this accident.
1 person likes this
@jefferson126 (3670)
• Shenzhen, China
2 Sep 20
Sorry to hear that,wish your grand nephew will recover soon,meeting some uncertain animal on the freeway will take
the risks.in particular,when they are crossing the road,it is possible to cause an unexpected accident.anyway,be careful not hit them when they came out.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 20
Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes accidents like this can't be helped.
