The 80-year-old man died after the car he was driving was involved in a single vehicle accident about 20 kilometres west of Julia Creek at 12.40pm.

At the request of the family, The North West Star has not published the name of the deceased man.

Police were still investigating the cause of the accident yesterday.

Good Shepherd Catholic Parish Priest Father Mick Lowcock was the sole passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

He suffered minor injuries and was briefly taken to Julia Creek Hospital for examination yesterday afternoon before being released shortly afterwards.

A single lane of the highway around the accident scene was closed yesterday afternoon as police from Kynuna, Julia Creek, Cloncurry and Forensic Crash Investigators from Mount Isa arrived at the scene.

Just three hours after their new ambulance station was officially opened by Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, Julia Creek paramedics also rushed to the crash scene.

It is believed the vehicle was removed from the roadside last night.

Mount Isa Police Inspector Trevor Kidd said it was a tragic event for the region.

“It’s just a very sad thing to have happened and it really affects the whole community,” he said.

“Our condolences go out to the family at this time.”

Inspector Kidd said late yesterday that the family were yet to formally identify the elderly man’s body.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.