"A tragic and fatal accident occurred on Sunday night, January 30, 1944, at about 9.30 o'clock, when a timber lorry with trailer attached, the driver of which was Mr. Michael W Malouf, failed to negotiate the motor by-pass on the Coolah Creek Road at the southern boundary of Mr. R.A. Wheeler's "Mount Mill" property, about eight miles from Coolah.

Miss Joan Costigan, 26 single, the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.T. Costigan, "Lane Oak," Coolah was killed instantaneously.

Mr. M.W. Malouf, who is a sawmiller, left Coolah at 3pm to bring down a load of logs from the Coolah Tops forest to his sawmill at Coolah. He was accompanied by Mr. E.E. Grove. Mr. H. Taylor, Mrs. Val Thomas, and Mrs. Molly Fraser, Sheila Frazer, Marie and Joan Costigan, who had decided to go for a run and have a little outing at the Forest.

Upon reaching the forest, Mr. Malouf loaded the lorry with five logs, ranging in length from 24 feet to 32 feet. Shortly after, a start was made on the return journey and, after travelling 16 miles, Mr Wheeler's boundary on the Coolah side was reached. In the cabin of the lorry was the driver (Mr. Malouf), Mr. E.E. Grove, and Miss Molly Fraser

The rest of the party were on the back of the lorry, some sitting on the logs and others were riding on the table top of the vehicle. When the lorry was passing over the motor ramp near Wheeler's gate the outside wheel on the right-hand side of the jinker appeared to have struck the guide post of the ramp, causing the pole of the jinker to break, and the jinker then became detached from the lorry and overturned.

Miss Sheila Frazer, Miss Marie Costigan and Mrs. Val Thomas jumped clear of the logs when the trailer overturned, but Miss Joan Costigan was crushed beneath a large log and was killed almost instantaneously. The lower part of Mr Taylor's body was pinned under the log. Miss Molly Fraser and Miss Marie Costigan, as soon as they recovered from the shock, hastened to Mr.Wheeler's house, about half a mile away, to telephone the doctor and assistance. As soon as word was received of the accident, Dr. Taylor proceeded to the scene, along with truck and carloads of men to assist in extricating the unfortunate victims from underneath the logs. After Dr. Taylor had pronounced life extinct the body of Miss Joan Costigan was taken to the morgue. Mr. H. Taylor was admitted to the hospital for treatment. It is stated that he is doing well as can be expected after such a severe ordeal.

The accident cast quite a gloom over the town and district. The victim Miss Joan Costigan, was a very popular young lady and very much liked by everyone. An inquest was held by the district coroner of February 7, 1945. The coroner found that the deceased had died from injuries accidentally received. No blame was attached to Mr. Malouf, the driver of the vehicle."