Grey nomads issue caravan warning after 'incredible' escape on Aussie highway

After their caravan was written off by the insurance company, a fellow West Australian bought it for $800. But it wouldn't take long for their paths to cross.

Colin posing for a picture with Kevin and Dorothy next to an image of the crushed caravan.
The couple were lucky to survive the caravan accident – and made a friend in the process. Source: Facebook/supplied

"It just came out of nowhere."

That's the scary reality a grey nomad couple have recounted after they were lucky to walk away from a devastating caravan crash on a West Australian highway recently.

Retired firefighter Kevin and his wife Dorothy are experienced caravan towers but were caught off guard on July 25 when they were suddenly overtaken by a large truck, with the driver's manoeuvre triggering chaos.

"It [the truck] was so close, he was right outside Kevin's window, he didn’t hit us… but I couldn’t believe how close he was" when overtaking, Dorothy told Yahoo News.

"But the thrust of the wind, it pushed the caravan onto the gravel and Kevin lost control."

The caravan swayed wildly before flipping in a dramatic crash that saw the retired couple's D-MAX ute and caravan completely written off. Dorothy escaped without a scratch or even a bruise, which she admits was "incredible" while Kevin suffered damage to several vertebrae and currently remains in a neck brace.

"We're very lucky, the both of us really," Dorothy said.

The couple were rushed to hospital and days later their caravan was taken to the wrecking yard before it ultimately ended up in the hands of another WA resident, Colin Ahearn, who purchased it at auction for a mere $800.

When he managed to get inside, he couldn't believe all the personal possessions that remained untouched since the crash.

"There was a hearing aid, a lot of medication, clothes and plenty of pairs of shoes," Colin told Yahoo News this week, as well as an address book which he later learned held precious details in it. "There were five or six bags of gear" ready to be returned.

Yahoo initially wrote about Colin's find last month and his desire to learn who the previous owners were and hear the story behind the pancaked caravan he had taken possession of – and the article soon made its way to Kevin and Dorothy.

Crumpled caravan on the back of a truck in western Australia.
The crumpled caravan was purchased for just $800. Source: Supplied

"Once we saw the article on Yahoo News, I searched for him on Facebook and found the message he sent me," Dorothy said.

"It's just amazing," she said. "Not everybody would do what he did.

"Once he took the straps off the caravan it just all fell apart… and he couldn’t believe everything was still in there."

Colin had reached out and invited them over to reclaim anything they could and this week the trio met up and swapped caravan "war stories" while they retrieved their possessions.

"It was a really, really nice feeling to be able to give stuff back," Colin told Yahoo. "They were over the moon."

"I think we've got a friend for life," Dorothy said.

The couple had the large-sized caravan, which they bought brand new, for about eight years. And Kevin had spent some three decades driving fire trucks at work so he certainly knew how to handle large vehicles. But despite that experience, there was little he could do to avoid the calamity when he was suddenly overtaken.

"You take your eye off the review mirror for just a moment ... It just happened so quickly," Dorothy lamented. "The police caught up with him [the truck driver] … but no one was at fault, they said in the end."

It's something the couple now say they've come to realise how common it is on Australian roads.

"We’ve talked to so many people and everyone knows someone who it has happened to … exactly the same situation," Dorothy told Yahoo.

"We talked to one lady a few weeks ago and her mum and stepdad had written off two cars and two caravans through the same sort of thing … it’s just crazy. You’ve got to be so careful."

Kev and Dorothy enjoying a drink. Colin pictured smiling with his caravan.
Kev and Dorothy has already found a new, smaller caravan replacement. Source: Facebook

On Monday Kevin will learn if he's able to take off his neck brace as he works back to full health.

Meanwhile, thanks to insurance the couple has already organised a new car and a new, second-hand caravan nearby in Busselton, WA.

"So we're getting back on the horse," Dorothy said. "It's a smaller van, so hopefully it will be easier to tow."

As for Colin, he has already stripped the decimated caravan down to its base frame and plans to rebuild it as a tiny house. "It's a 7-metre long tailer, so I'll make it into a storey-and-a-half tiny home to be a cost effective accomodation for someone," he told Yahoo.

"We’re looking forward to his next venture of putting a little house on the tray," Dorothy agreed.

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