Tourist charged after coastal highway collision

A 68-year-old American tourist has been taken to hospital after his four-wheel drive collided head-on with another vehicle on North West Coastal Highway this morning.

Police allege the male driver was about 40km north of Roebourne, heading south at 100kmh in a rental Suzuki Vitara, when he fell asleep at the wheel at 9.15am.

His vehicle collided with a Landcruiser ute towing a trailer, being driven by a local station hand.

Roebourne police, two ambulances and three fire and rescue brigades were dispatched to the scene at 9:30am.

A St John’s Ambulance spokesman said the tourist’s vehicle rolled at least twice before landing on its wheels.

The driver managed to free himself by climbing out of a window before officers arrived.

He sustained a deep head laceration and possibly broken ribs but was lucid.

He was taken to Roebourne Hospital and has since been transferred to Nickol Bay Hospital in Karratha.

The station hand, who is a French national, escaped without injury.

Both drivers were travelling alone.

Several motorists stopped to assist at the accident scene, including a passing doctor and nurse.

Both vehicles involved in the crash suffered extensive damage.

The American driver has been charged with one count of careless driving.

Roebourne police Sergeant Steve Taylor said both men were lucky to have survived and the accident was a lesson for people not to drive tired or rush their journeys.