A friend of a truck driver who died in a fiery head-on collision on Picton Road is angry about plans to remove a memorial erected at the site.
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Roads and Maritime Services Southern Regional Director Sam Knight said the roadside memorial posed safety concerns.
In the early hours of March 24, 2017, truck drivers Adrian Ryan and Michael Gorman died in a fiery collision.
Will Bush, a good mate of Mr Ryan, was in his own truck just a short distance behind when the tragedy happened.
"We were chatting on the UHF just before it happened," Mr Bush said.
"I'd come around that corner and shit had gone south. I didn't realise it was him until I got out of my truck."
Mr Bush had only started driving trucks five days ago, after being encouraged by Mr Ryan.
While he is still driving trucks, Mr Bush said seeing his friend's truck on fire "destroyed" him.
To pay tribute to a friend, Mr Bush and fellow truckies contributed to a memorial on Picton Road.
The impressive monument includes truck exhaust pipes, hubcaps as well as the centre console from Mr Ryan's truck, which Mr Bush found on the road after the accident site had been cleared.
Mr Bush said he spoke to several groups, including police and the local council, before erecting the memorial in August 2017
As well as sending the message that Mr Ryan was loved, Mr Bush also believed the memorial could help with road safety and get people to slow down.
"As a truck driver, you get in and you have a go all day," he said.
"You've got places to be - but you see something like that it makes the hair stand up on your neck and gives your body shivers."
RMS has contacted Mr Bush about moving the memorial somewhere else; possibly to the heavy vehicle rest area along Picton Road.
This does not sit at all well with Mr Bush.
"It defeats the purpose - that's where he took his last breath and that's where he should be remembered," Mr Bush said.
On Wednesday, he started an online petition to protest the possible removal - after two days it had more than 7000 signatures.
Ms Knight from RMS confirmed it had contacted Mr Bush about relocating the memorial to Mr Ryan.
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"RMS understands and respects the importance of this memorial site, however we have real concerns for the safety of those who are pulling over on the side of the road to visit," Ms Knight said.
"We will always do whatever we can to help grieving families and friends pay respects to their lost loved ones.
"As such we have offered the family a number of options including moving the memorial to a nearby safer location.
"We will continue to meet and work closely on finding a suitable solution for them."
Ms Knight said RMS "will carry out safety upgrade work on that stretch of road in the near future".
RMS does have a roadside tribute policy to ensure these memorials are safe.
The guidelines state memorials must not be higher that 50cm or wider than 40cm and they must not include lighting, fluorescent materials or other items that could be a distraction for drivers.
It also identified safety concerns from motorists pulling over to visit the memorial.
"Roadside areas, especially on busy roads, are generally not the most appropriate locations to place tributes," the guidelines stated.
"There are safer places where tributes can be placed."
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
