Crashes dominate top 10 most popular local online stories
CRASH stories dominated the top 10 local stories online in 2012 but the No.1 spot was reserved for a yarn about a cat that came back.
1. Lost cat returns after four years - January 20
Given up for dead for more than four years, Dexter the cat walked back into the life of his Hervey Bay owners after going missing in Shepparton, Victoria.
Dexter became something of a legend around the streets of Shepparton, notorious for stealing food from other cats' bowls, until an elderly woman finally trapped him.
A Shepparton animal shelter identified his owners Anna Stevenson and Chris Golden, who had since moved to Queensland, from a microchip and he was flown to Hervey Bay be reunited.
2. Five crash victims identified - September 30
Five members of the same family were killed in a horror crash between a four-wheel drive and a semitrailer on the Bruce Hwy between Howard and Childers.
Hervey Bay residents Helen Walker, 97, Liz Walker, 62, and her partner Rex Laughton, 74, died in the smash along with Robert and Lily Walker, 65 and 62, of Forest Lake.
3. Silcox family mourns loss of youngest member - November 8
Ophelia Silxox, 14, was killed in a ute driven by her 15-year-old sister Curtsie when the vehicle slid off a dirt road and hit a tree at Paterson.
Curtsie suffered minor injuries in the crash including a bump on the head and a deep cut to her hand that required stitches.
Tributes flowed on Facebook for the outgoing teen and included a post by Curtsie, who said: "I just miss my little sister so much. I love you Ophelia. R.I.P".
4. One confirmed dead after plane crash near Burrum Heads - December 17
Christmas celebrations for a skydiving group quickly turned to tragedy when a light plane clipped power lines and crashed, killing the Gympie-based pilot, near Burrum Heads.
5. Woman dies after freak accident - April 13
A 59-year-old woman stopped at traffic lights on Boat Harbour Dr at Pialba was killed when a four-wheel drive lost control at speed behind her and crashed into her car.
6. Our geek aims to be a pop star - February 18
After finding love and winning a share of $100,000 in prizemoney from hit reality show, Beauty and The Geek, the former Maryborough State schoolboy-turned-political nerd Lachlan Cosgrove released a song on iTunes.
7. Jail for part in disturbing murder - September 10
A woman who hacked off a man's penis after luring him to her Maryborough home where he was sprayed with poison and beaten to death was jailed for nine years.
8. Man charged over fatal hwy crash - September 8
A 23-year-old man was charged dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death following a crash on the Bruce Hwy near Torbanlea in which a Bundaberg motorcycle rider, 62, was killed and his 62-year-old female pillion passenger was injured.
9. Hervey Bay geek revealed as TV show mystery millionaire - October 19
Hervey Bay man Nathan Hoad, a co-founder of social media site Kondoot, dramatically outed himself as the secret millionaire on hit TV show Beauty and the Geek.
10. Leaders in the council race so far - April 29
WITH almost half the votes tallied on the Fraser Coast, most divisions had a clear leader and Gerard O'Connell had increased his lead over Mick Kruger and Chris Couper with 60% of the polls in his favour.
