Police are investigating after a spate of fatal road accidents involving the synthetic drug fentanyl on the Queensland road network.
Key points:A total of 11 deaths have been recorded in the last six months on Queensland roads since October 2016Police are investigating a number of deaths on Queensland road networks involving fentanyl and other drugsThe Queensland Government is now in charge of road safety after the coronavirus pandemic ended and the new health minister said the State is in the process of revamping its road safety protocols.
Key pointsA total 11 deaths in the past six months have been reported in the Queensland Road Network (QRN) since October last yearPolice are probing a number in relation to deaths caused by fentanyl and related drugs, including car crashes, on public road networksA number of other drivers have also died while driving on Queensland’s roads in recent months, including a 30-year-old man who died in a car crash while under the influence of fentanyl and fentanyl-related drugs.
A QRN spokeswoman said on Friday that investigations into the deaths were ongoing and the Queensland Government was now in the lead.
Queensland Police Commander Superintendent Craig Thompson said the state was now undertaking a thorough investigation.
“We are doing an extensive review of all road deaths to ensure we are protecting Queenslanders and drivers,” he said.
“[We are] looking at the factors that have led to these deaths and what happened in the community and in the media, including social media, as well as a range of other factors that could have contributed to the death.”
The QRN said there were no reported deaths due to fentanyl in the network.
The ABC has sought comment from Queensland’s Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Services, Scott Emerson, and the State Government.
Topics:public-sector,drug-offences,health,government-and-politics,qld,nsw,council,public-service,qanda,liverpool-2121First posted October 20, 2021 16:00:36Contact the writer
