A caravan park manager in Coral Bay says two road crashes in successive months is proof the road leading into the tourist town is too dangerous.
The warning comes after a 25-year-old man was killed in a crash on Coral Bay Road on Sunday morning.
Police say the man’s Toyota Hilux collided with a white Volkswagen sedan near the Minilya-Exmouth Road turn-off.
The 25-year-old man was taken to the Coral Bay Nursing Post with critical injuries but died. (ABC News: Alistair Bates)
The 50-year-old woman driving the Volkswagen suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.
“The road is unsafe … [it is] very narrow and winding,” caravan park manager Jacqui Price said.
“We have huge numbers of caravans, big boats, people towing trailers, a lot of international visitors who might not have had experience driving on the roads up here.”
A 25-year-old woman had to be airlifted to hospital after a crash on the same stretch of road last month.
Jacqui Price manages the Bayview caravan park in Coral Bay. (Supplied: Jacqui Price)
And a woman was killed in another crash on Minilya-Exmouth road in October last year.
Concern for busy winter months
The coastal town of Coral Bay, 1,100km north of Perth, is a tourist hotspot during winter and is renowned for its diverse sea life and secluded beaches.
Ms Price said during the winter months the road was used by hundreds of people every day.
Minilya-Exmouth Road was upgraded in 2023 in a bid to improve safety ahead of a rare total solar eclipse that brought tens of thousands of visitors to the Coral Coast.
Ms Price said she would like to see the same upgrades on Coral Bay Road.
Coral Bay’s beaches and marine life make it a popular tourist spot during winter. (ABC News: Alistair Bates)
“After the Minilya turn-off they did widen the road and that’s a nice bit of a road now with plenty of room,” she said.
“But it only lasts a couple of kilometres and then the rest of it is just very thin, windy road which is really unsafe.”
Main Roads WA has been contacted for comment.
Ms Price urged tourists to take their time when driving to Coral Bay.
“People can get tired after travelling long distances; just be alert,” she said.
“There’s also a lot of wildlife out on the road and big trucks. So just slow down and be safe.”