A roofer’s early morning drive through Terrey Hills ended in disaster when his ute slammed into a power pole, leaving him critically injured and his young family in sudden crisis.
A Family’s World Turns Upside Down
On Friday, 9 May, Mark Peebles, 32, was driving to work on Mona Vale Road in Terrey Hills when his ute veered off the road and hit a power pole. Emergency crews freed him from the wreckage as live wires hung overhead.
Mark was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital with a crushed leg, fractured spine and collapsed lung. He underwent five surgeries in intensive care, but with his spinal cord intact, doctors remain hopeful for recovery.
At home, Monika juggled full-time work, hospital visits and caring for their two young children, aged three and one. Their daughter kept asking when her dad would come home, unaware of how serious things were.
Community Steps In To Help
Friends and neighbours rallied around the Peebles family. Close friend Kim Isik launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with daily costs and hospital travel, raising over $10,000 from nearly 100 donors.
The campaign shares how Monika’s world changed overnight, juggling twice the load with half the income. While friends have stepped in with meals and childcare, the emotional strain continues to weigh heavily.
Recovery Ahead Remains Uncertain
Doctors expect Mark to spend two more months in hospital, followed by six months of rehab. He’s speaking and moving again, but memory loss remains a challenge, with conversations fading in minutes.
Before the crash, Mark had complained of dizziness, and it’s suspected he may have blacked out behind the wheel. Investigators are still reviewing the incident. For now, the focus remains on helping the Peebles family adjust to this new chapter and giving Mark the best chance to recover.
A Broader Issue Behind The Numbers
The Peebles family’s story highlights the human cost behind NSW’s road toll, with over 10,000 people hospitalised each year. Experts say the impact goes beyond injuries, leaving families and communities to carry the burden.
Local support has helped, but Monika says juggling hospital visits, work and parenting feels like a blur. She and the kids now face months of emotional and physical recovery.
Published 20-May-2025
