IT’S hoped a memorial sign honouring the victims of a horrific crash is reminding drivers to slow down at
one of Alexandra Hills’ most accident-prone intersections.
Despite ongoing community concerns and a tragic history, no work is planned to improve safety at the Allenby Rd and Finucane Rd intersection – the site where young couple Matthew Field, 37, and Kate Leadbetter, 31, along with their unborn son Miles, were killed on Australia Day 2021.
Residents say minor accidents occur there almost weekly and have called for a speed camera to be installed.
Transport and Main Roads (TMR) crash data shows that between January 2019 and November 2024, there were three crashes and six casualty crashes at the intersection, resulting in three deaths, two people requiring medical treatment, and one person with minor injuries.
When asked about efforts to improve safety at the site, the Queensland Government pointed to nearby upgrades underway at the Finucane Rd and Dawson Rd intersection.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of the people who travel on Queensland’s vast road network,” a TMR spokesperson said.
“The works will improve safety at the Finucane Rd and Dawson Rd intersection by removing right-turn movements to and from Dawson Rd, relocating bus stops to McDonald Rd, extending the right-turn lane onto McDonald Rd, and reducing the eastbound speed limit between McDonald Rd and Delancey St from 70 km/h to 60 km/h.”
Construction began in mid-2024 and is expected to finish later this year, weather permitting.
While those upgrades are welcome, locals remain frustrated that no further improvements are planned at the Allenby Rd intersection, where the triple fatality occurred.
State Member for Capalaba Russell Field said there were no easy solutions.
“It’s the same as any other intersection in the state with traffic lights installed,” he said.
“I believe a lot of it comes down to driver behaviour.”
Instead, Mr Field said he hoped the memorial sign offered a powerful daily visual reminder.
“We just hope the sign continues to make people think twice at that intersection and others like it,” he said.
Mr Field also noted that only Matt and Kate were included in the charges laid during the court case, despite there being an autopsy, a death certificate and a funeral for Miles.
“The charge, like so many others, was two counts of manslaughter – not three as we believe it should have been,” he said.
“We will continue our efforts to have Miles recognised as a statistic.”
The teenage driver responsible for the crash was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2022 – but will serve only 60 per cent.
He is due for release in January 2027 – on the sixth anniversary of the crash.
Mr Field described the timing as “a real kick in the guts for all concerned.”
Following the sentencing, Mr Field became a vocal critic of youth crime laws and later entered Parliament as the Member for Capalaba.
