Motorcyclist critical after collision with garbage truck in Townsville

A motorcyclist has sustained life-threatening injuries after a collision with a council garbage truck in Townsville, Queensland. The crash occurred on Webb Drive in Mount St John and was reported to emergency services shortly before 6:00 AM on Wednesday.

Paramedics attended the scene, and a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed the male rider suffered critical injuries. The local council has stated it is cooperating fully with the Queensland Police, who are investigating the incident. As a result of the ongoing investigation, Webb Drive is expected to be closed for approximately three hours.

Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto provided context, explaining that the truck involved had recently departed a council depot located at the end of Webb Drive. He noted that due to the incident, the council would not be collecting rubbish on Wednesday. This collision tragically follows a fatal incident in July 2025, where an 85-year-old woman died after being struck by a Townsville City Council garbage truck in a residential street.

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As people might know, our waste trucks are actually stored down at the end of Webb Drive and one of the first trucks coming out this morning was involved in this.