Queensland couple call for answers months after horror car crash

A family of four somehow managed to escape the wreckage of their rolled car after it was smashed off the road and down an embankment by an 80-year-old driver. Now they want justice.

A Queensland couple claim they have waited several months for charges to be laid after their vehicle rolled in a high-speed crash on the Sunshine Coast.

Nicole Bruhn and her partner Nick Stapert were travelling for a family day out in Montville with their two daughters, aged 18 and 14, when their car was smashed into by another vehicle and plummeted down an embankment on Sunday July 21.

“I purchased my new (second-hand) car on the Wednesday and picked it up on the Thursday. Sunday came around and we decided as a family we would take it out for its first maiden voyage,” Ms Bruhn said.

“We spent the day in the Hinterland going through Maleny and Montville and around through Kenilworth. Our day was amazing we bought from local stores and watched candy being made.”

Nicole Bruhn's family car after the crash on July 2024 in Kenilworth. Photo: supplied

Ms Bruhn said it was on the trip home when their day took a turn.

“Coming back from the falls through Kenilworth a silver RAV4 came flying through the roundabout.. we were now behind the car,” she said.

“We witnessed random braking, swerving into on coming lanes, driving on the wrong side of the road, speeding up then flat out braking for no reason.”

Ms Bruhm said she made the decision to pass the “erratic” car and was about to turn onto the Bruce Highway home when the unexpected happened.

“Out of nowhere the bang came, my four-wheel-drive was pushed forward. While I no longer had my foot on the accelerator, as we were trying to brace ourselves, it picked up speed and was shoved off the road with a lot of force,” Ms Bruhm said.

“The ditch was coming hard and fast. There was only enough time for Nick to yell to everyone to “hold on hold on!”.

“We went quiet as the car tumbled and turned and then rolled numerous times.”

Blood splatters on Nicole Bruhn's family car after the crash on July 2024 in Kenilworth. Photo: supplied

The two-vehicles collided on Emundi Keilworth Road at Eerwah Vale at around 3.45pm.

Ms Bruhn said the car rolled over five times and a car of P-platers were first on the scene to assist.

“The rescue teams that had to cut me from the car couldn’t understand how this wasn’t a multiple fatality considering the damage they were looking at,” Ms Bruhn said.

Four months after the crash Ms Bruhn said the 80-year-old woman, whose car was unregistered at the time, had still not been charged.

“A witness said she was travelling over 110km/h before the impact, if it was someone my age or younger we would’ve been charged by now,” she said.

A Queensland Police spokesman told The Courier-Mail that they are unable to confirm the speed due to the ongoing investigation but said no charges had been laid.

Originally published as Queensland couple call for answers months after horror car crash