Oallen Ford Bridge death left ‘huge hole’: Widow

Melissa Pearce is facing her first Christmas without her partner of three and a half years. The pair had bought a house together in Jerrabomberra and were planning to marry next year.

“It’s been devastating, Ms Pearce told the Post.

“We had plans for the future and now I don’t know what the future holds.”

The Canberra-born 50-year-old was killed at the Oallen Ford Bridge on Sunday, October 4.

Ms Pearce said she’d spoken to Mr Hughes from the Gold Coast the night before.

The car and bike buff was on a high after scooping several awards at the Bungendore Show that day for his restored vehicle.

He excitedly talked about taking his restored Ducati on a run to the south coast the next day. But the trip proved fateful. Ms Pearce found out about his death that evening while still on the Gold Coast with her family.

It was only afterwards that police showed her photos of the pothole Mr Hughes reportedly struck. Council workers filled it in hours after the accident.

Residents have told the Post they had complained of the pothole. While council undertook repairs, it reappeared.

Ms Pearce said she had many questions that could only be answered through an inquest.

“Why wasn’t the pothole fixed?” she asked.

“It wasn’t little, it was massive... I think the whole process of building and opening the road was rushed and it was not sealed properly. Why did it break up so badly just three weeks after it was opened?”

She also wants to know whether the road’s design, including the armco railing’s positioning, compromised safety. Ms Pearce said Mr Hughes was an experienced rider, was not speeding and police had found no mechanical faults in the bike.

“He died because of the height he fell, not because of the accident itself,” she said.

The Ducati was not extensively damaged.

Ms Pearce said she was not getting answers from the council.

“If there is no coronial inquest, I will have to take legal action because the public has a right to know,” she said.

A spokesman for the Coroners Court said yesterday that a brief of evidence has been received.

“The Magistrate has asked the officer in charge of the investigation for further information before making a decision on whether to hold an inquest,” he said.

Ms Pearce said Roads Minister Duncan Gay could not give any assurances an inquest would be held, saying this was up to the Coroner. The Roads and Maritime Service is also conducting an investigation.

She told the Post that while touched by yesterday’s tributes, she was disappointed the bridge opening went ahead.

Ms Pearce said her partner’s death had been emotionally and financially stressful.

She described Mr Hughes as a friendly and easy going man who everyone liked.

His death “affects every aspect of my life,” she said.

“We did so much together that his death leaves a huge hole.”