On the 22nd of February 1956, Constable Thomas, the Officer in Charge of Sandstone Police Station, died as result of a traffic crash that occurred on the road from Meekatharra to Sandstone.

Constable Thomas had earlier transported a sick patient to Meekatharra Hospital, then left to hospital to return to his station at 1.30pm on 21st February 1956. 

The next morning, Mr Garrick, the local storekeeper at Wiluna, became concerned that the officer had not returned and went to search for him.  At 11am, after travelling some 70 miles, Mr Garrick found Constable Thomas under his upturned vehicle.