Keeleys Road 3-car crash injures young mum with two kids in the car

A mother of five says the family car was turned into a ‘pinball machine’ when a woman allegedly caused a three-vehicle crash before fleeing into bushland.

A mother who was driving with her two young kids has described the terrifying moment they were hurling towards a tree like being in a “pinball machine”.

Isabella Smith had her two-year-old and four-month old with her when the impact of a three-vehicle crash along Keeleys Rd in Andergrove on Wednesday forced her car off the road.

The mother of five says she is grateful her children escaped serious harm after she spent overnight in hospital with neck and shoulder injuries.

The female driver alleged to be responsible for the crash had reportedly fled into bushland while before police arrived at the scene about 3pm.

Isabella Smith and two of her children were crashed into by a woman who then fled the scene and police. Photo: Contributed

Ms Smith said she was “terrified” and “absolutely furious” the woman had taken off.

“I was on my way to Slade Point State School to pick up my older children,” Ms Smith said.

“There was a tractor on Keeleys Rd so I had to slow right down.

“All of a sudden, there was this loud bang and my car is lurching forward (then) it felt like we were in a pinball machine.

“And the next thing I know we’re heading for a tree.

“My kids were screaming.”

Isabella Smith and her two children were crashed into on Keeleys Road. Photo: Contributed

Ms Smith said the family car was hit from behind by a female driver and was slammed into the back of a ute before careening across ongoing traffic into the tree.

Despite her injuries, she immediately jumped out and got her screaming four month old Amari out of the car.

Amari was miraculously untouched but two-year-old Phoenix suffered bruising on his stomach.

The family’s seven-seater Toyota station wagon is now completely written off.

Isabella Smith and two of her children were crashed into by a woman who then fled the scene and police. Photo: Contributed

“There was oncoming cars and I was lucky they saw me and slowed down,” Ms Smith said.

“I’m very lucky that my two older children weren’t in the car because it essentially became a five seater.

“It’s just terrifying.”

Ms Smith said while witnesses stopped to help her family, the female driver allegedly responsible for the crash drove off before stopping to flee on foot.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said a crew was called to the scene at 2.52pm but when officers arrived, the fleeing woman was near the Melaleuca Golf Course.

Isabella Smith and two of her children were crashed into by a woman who then fled the scene and police. Photo: Contributed

“She was already gone by the time I got my kids out of the car,” Ms Smith said.

“I spoke to the police (and) they had said she drove off, exited the vehicle and they got the dog squad.

“And that’s how they found her.

The woman was eventually caught and kept under police guard while Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics attended to her.

Two-year-old Phoenix suffered bruising during the crash. Photo: Contributed

A QAS spokeswoman said four ambulances were called to the crash with three patients taken to Mackay Base Hospital while the runaway driver spoke to police.

Ms Smith now faces a long and expensive recovery process with scans, injuries and physiotherapy.

She is meant to start a new job as a youth worker in January but now that future is uncertain.

Isabella Smith had to spend a night in Mackay Base Hospital after the crash on Keeleys Road on December 1, 2022. Photo: Contributed

“I can’t even lift my four month old … I need a lot of help right now”, Ms Smith said.

“I have a good support system.

“I’m grateful my children weren’t hurt, but I’m absolutely furious that one stupid decision from someone else has caused so much damage.”