Former cop Bruce Daley identified as one of two people killed in horror Legacy Way tunnel crash

A former police officer who was one of two people killed in a horror Brisbane tunnel crash was driving in excess of 200km/h, according to a witness. Now his haunting social media posts have been revealed.

A former police officer has been identified as one of two killed in a horror crash in Brisbane’s Legacy Way tunnel with an investigation under way if one of the vehicles involved was travelling at high speeds.

Bruce Daley was driving a black Audi S3. A witness told The Courier-Mail the Audi was being driven at speeds in excess of 200km/h seconds before it collided with the silver sedan, which subsequently collided with a small truck.

Former police officer Bruce Daley has been identified as one of the victims of a horror Legacy Way tunnel crash.

A 24-year-old passenger in the sedan was also killed. She was a nurse from the Northern Territory. The 23-year-old driver of the sedan, from South Australia, remains fighting for life in hospital.

A fourth person suffered minor injuries.

Mr Daley was medically retired from the Queensland Police Service in December 2014.

He had posted online about relationship struggles, loneliness and even suicide over a number of years.

Asked on Thursday whether Mr Daley’s mental health would form part of the investigation, Detective Acting Inspector Chris Hansel didn’t want to “go into specifics”.

Asked whether self-harm was being investigated, Inspector Hansel said he was “unable to comment”.

“I’m unable to comment on exact scenarios at this stage as you would appreciate it is a very complex investigation, a very confronting scene that was experienced by our first responders and members of the public last night. It would be again irresponsible for me to nominate a specific scenario without the full investigation having been undertaken,” he said.

A smashed car in a horror Legacy Way tunnel crash. Picture: Reddit

Inspector Hansel said speed would be a “focus” in the protracted investigations, which is expected to take several months.

“What I can say is that speed is obviously being considered as a contributing factor but a lot of other factors are also being considered, we are conducting a very broad, global investigation and we are examining any contributing factor,” he said.

Asked about reports the Audi had been travelling at 200 km/h prior to the crash, Insp Hansel said: “I can’t be specific in terms of exact speeds that would be irresponsible of me to do that at this point in time, however, that will be forming part of a focus of the ongoing forensic crash investigation.”

He also confirmed police had seized vision of the crash from inside the tunnel, but wouldn’t comment on what it depicted.

“CCTV has been seized and secured and is subject of review, and it does assist investigators on the nature and cause of what transpired,” Inspector Hansel said.

“But it’s too early to make that determination at this time.”

Former police officer Bruce Daley has died in a horror Legacy Way crash.

Mr Daley’s stepdaughter on Thursday night said she was meant to be in the car with him, saying she was meant to be helping him move in to the home she shares with her mother.

“I ... was reading it and I didn’t know it was him until my mum called me half an hour later saying it was him,” she told 7 News.

“He treated my mum really ... I wouldn’t say like a princess, but he gave her whatever she wanted.”

Mr Daley was the brother of Ross Daley, a former lobbyist who controversially received a $1 million fee after SunSuper allocated $100 million to Trinity Group.

The former Labor staffer turned lobbyist said he was paid the fee for helping Trinity Group target industry superannuation funds.

The controversy led to then-Premier Anna Bligh changing lobbying rules for her government.

A witness to Wednesday’s crash said he narrowly avoided the “horrific” collision by about 80m.

“I was driving behind the Audi … for some reason (the driver) slowed down and stopped when we entered the tunnel,” they said.

“(The driver) didn’t indicate or put hazards on … I indicated around him and kept going … a few people beeped at him.

“I got back in the left lane but kept looking back to see if he got going again.

“Then I could hear a car engine roaring as he went past me … then 20 seconds later smoke and debris was flying around.”

The witness said the Audi was “doing 200km/h plus past me in the tunnel”

“There wasn’t much that could be done for some of the victims.”

He said other bystanders tried to help “as best we could” before emergency services arrived.

The speed limit in the Legacy Way Tunnel is 80 km/h.

Three vehicles were involved in the smash, which happened at 3.10pm in the inbound section of the tunnel.

A horror crash shut down the Legacy Way tunnel. Picture: Reddit

Premier Steven Miles extended his sympathies to people involved in the incident.

“Queensland police’s forensic crash investigation unit are working right now to identify exactly what’s happened,” he said.

“My thoughts are with families of those affected – it’s an awful, awful crash.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner described the crash as “truly horrific”.

“While we don’t yet know the full details, the scenes from yesterday’s crash in Brisbane’s Legacy Way tunnel were truly horrific,” he wrote on X.

“Like many Brisbane residents who regularly use the tunnel, I’m shocked about the tragic loss of lives and my heart goes out to their families.”

Police were on Wednesday night attempting to piece together the events that led to the crash.

Both inbound and outbound lanes of the tunnel were closed for more than two hours.

Westbound lanes were reopened about 5pm, but eastbound lanes remained closed.

The incident caused long delays across the city.

Former police officer Bruce Daley has died in a horror Legacy Way crash.

Police regional duty officer Stephen Crabbe told journalists on Wednesday night: “Police are appealing for information in relation to a black Audi S3 that would have been travelling northbound on the Centenary Motorway through the Legacy Way tunnel.

“Forensic Crash Units are currently at the scene investigating.

“The driver of the black Audi has died, the female passenger of the silver sedan has died and the driver of the silver sedan is currently in a critical condition.

“The third person who received serious injuries is expected to survive those injuries.

“The scene was extensive, over several hundred metres involving three vehicles.”

Police stopping traffic entering the Legacy Tunnel at Kelvin Grove after a crash closed the tunnel in both directions. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Photographs posted online show the Audi crushed against a wall, its exhaust ripped from the body of the car.

“I was just out of sight behind this when it happened,” one person wrote.

“The vehicle pictured was just ahead of me and accelerated quickly just after the first speed camera heading eastbound until it was out of sight.

“Came across the scene about 30 seconds later.”

Another motorist wrote: “I unfortunately was just behind this accident. Rest in peace. What a horrific way to go.

“There was a black car and sliver car completely totalled and then there was a box truck that was damaged at the back.”

Queensland Ambulance Service’s High Acuity Response Unit and medical director Steve Rashford were among emergency responders who rushed to the crash scene.

Police sent forensic crash investigators to help determine the cause of the collision.

Dr Rashford said QAS sent numerous crews, along with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

“The incident involved multiple vehicles with very significant damage,” he said.

“It also resulted in very significant traffic delays in the surrounding areas.

“We’d ask everyone to be very careful on the roads tonight as they travel home.

“Please travel safely.”

Speaking to the media near the eastern entrance of the tunnel on Wednesday night, Queensland police Regional Duty Officer Acting Inspector Stephen Crabbe said police were yet to determine if speed was a factor in the crash, or if any of the vehicles were stolen.

He described the crash scene as “extensive”, extending over several hundred metres.

Insp Crabbe said the man killed in the crash, aged in his 50s, was driving a black Audi, while the deceased woman, aged in her 20s, was a passenger in a silver sedan.

The driver of silver sedan was taken to hospital and was undergoing surgery for critical injuries.

A fourth person was seriously injured but was expected to survive.

“Police are appealing for information in relation to a black Audi s3 that would have been travelling northbound on the Centenary Motorway through the Legacy Way tunnel,” Insp Crabbe said.

“Forensic crash units are currently at the scene investigating.”

The Queensland Ambulance Service’s medical director Dr Steve Rashford attended the scene along with numerous paramedic and Queensland Fire and Rescue crews.

Both inbound and outbound lanes of the tunnel were closed to motorists for more than two hours.