Two-vehicle crash claims life of man and woman outside Atherton

An elderly man and woman have been killed in a two-vehicle highway crash on the Atherton Tablelands involving an SUV and a car towing a caravan.

An elderly man and woman have been killed in a two-vehicle highway crash on the Atherton Tablelands involving an SUV and a car towing a caravan.

At 11.47am emergency services were called to the crash at the intersection of the Kennedy Highway and Malanda Atherton Rd.

Initially, entrapments were reported as Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics arrived at the scene.

#Atherton - Paramedics are on scene of a serious traffic incident on the Kennedy Highway at 11.47am. pic.twitter.com/SlVptHLrJg

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) July 17, 2025

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said one man aged in his 30s was taken via road to Atherton Hospital suffering from minor injuries.

“To be honest it was quite minimal and he had some neck pain,” she said.

Two other patients, man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s were assessed by paramedics but Queensland Ambulance said neither were taken to hospital.

Queensland police confirmed both the man and the woman involved in the crash were declared dead at the scene.

Inspector Jason Smith of the Tablelands Patrol Group said initial information indicates a Toyota Landcruiser collided with a Subaru towing a caravan.

“Unfortunately two people are deceased as a result of this traffic accident,” he said.

“The Forensic Crash Unit has been deployed to investigate this incident.

“We are appealing to anyone who may have dashcam or be a witness to this traffic accident to contact police.”

Inspector Jason Smith of the Tablelands Patrol Group at the scene of a fatal crash outside Atherton.

Police have advised the Kennedy Highway is fully closed between Atherton Malanda Rd and Hastie Rd and motorists have been urged to avoid the area and drive with caution.

Inbound traffic to Atherton along Atherton Malanda Rd is being diverted along Marks Lane and Kennedy Highway traffic en route to Atherton is being diverted down Hastie Rd.

The Forensic Crash Unit investigators are at the scene and police have been unable to state when the road may open.

Investigations are ongoing, anyone with information or relevant vision is urged to contact police.

Before the latest fatal crash, seven people had died on Far North roads this year in a 40 per cent reduction on the total for this time last year.

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Originally published as Two-vehicle crash claims life of man and woman outside Atherton