The scene near Childers where Army truckies attempted to save the life of a driver. Photo provided by 87 Tp.

By Cpl Belinda Mepham
Army truckies are applying defensive driver and first aid training every time they drive their vehicles.

Pte Natasha Williamson, 87 Tp, pulled up her Mack CH Fleetliner loaded with two APCs weighing 42 tonnes after a small dump truck skidded out of control and collided with her while travelling to Shoalwater Bay recently.

The driver of the dump truck died later in hospital after the other packet drivers had kept him alive with immediate first aid until the ambulance arrived.

Pte Williams was praised for her actions by the local shire council and newspaper.

Extensive defensive driver training combined with advanced first-aid training has equipped drivers, such as Pte Williamson, to deal with crash victims.

At the cost of a life, becoming complacent is not something they can afford to do.

OC 87 Tp Lt Meegan Whalen said coming across an accident was an inevitable reality of the job as 87 Tp members can spend up to six months of the year on roads.

“It is almost a certainty that the driver will have to perform first aid on civilian road users – however training our drivers to avoid causing the accidents and make calm, instinctive life saving reactions is critical,” she said.

“Paramedics and, in some cases, witnesses to an accident scene we have arrived at first, have commended the drivers for their action.”

Lt Whalen said although the big picture of training was for war, the application of driver training was relevant in everyday life.

A witness and potential victim from this incident wrote a letter to the OC of 26 Tpt Sqn commending Pte Williamson for her actions to halt her truck and loaded trailer.

The letter said, “After she collided with the smaller truck she was able to control the semi-trailer without any further serious injury or fatalities occurring ... whatever training is in place for soldiers, in defensive driving at least, is working well.”

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