Emergency crews rush to serious multi-vehicle highway crash at Bloomsbury

An overturned Landcruiser was lifted up by hand by first responders and passing motorists to save the life of the 21-year-old Queensland man trapped inside after a horror crash on the Bruce Highway which left two men fighting to survive.

Police at the scene of a crash on the Bruce Highway at Bloomsbury. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A group of motorists and a passing forensic crash officer, who were first on scene at a multi vehicle highway crash, pulled a young horrifically injured driver from the upside down mangled wreck.

The 21-year-old Kelso man suffered significant injuries to his head, face, hip and arm and had to be flown to Townsville where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

One of the motorists, who was first on scene and preferred her name not be printed at this stage, said the young man had been stuck under the upturned Toyota LandCruiser.

“It was the quick thinking, determination, adrenaline and manpower of us first responder’s that was able to lift the Ute off the young man with our very own hands, in hope we could have a chance to save him,” she told this publication.

She said they were “confronted with a horrendous scene and injuries”.

“He was missing a lot of his face,” she said.

An experienced Mackay Forensic Crash officer who had been travelling to Bowen to collect property came across the crash just after it happened.

He helped members of the public who were on scene in removing the 21 year old from the vehicle.

The aftermath of the crash. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A 72-year-old Clifton Hill man, who had been behind the wheel of a Mazda Cx5, was also critically injured in the crash that shut the Bruce Highway in both directions for several hours.

“I have not long completed a thorough first aid course for my mining job which enabled me to hopefully save the life of the 71-year-old driver,” the woman said, adding the older man had also been trapped.

The crash had forced the Mazda off the road and into nearby bushland.

“Another young lady stayed with his wife and comforted her whilst nursing minor injuries and staying very brave on the road side while I assisted her husband.

“I am so incredibly proud of the human spirit … the endless effort we put in to trying to save these two gentleman’s lives … I’m so proud of what we’ve done today.”

The three-vehicle collision involved the LandCruiser travelling north, and an Isuzu truck and dog trailer followed by the Mazda Cx5 travelling south on Thursday afternoon.

Forensic Crash Unit investigations indicate just before 3pm the LandCruiser crossed into the opposite lane striking the Isuzu, and then the Cx5 travelling behind.
The 21-year-old Townsville man suffered life-threatening injuries.

Two people had to be extricated following the three-vehicle carnage. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A 34-year-old Mundingburra man, who was a passenger in the LandCruiser, was taken to Mackay Base Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.

The 72-year-old Clifton Hill man suffered life threatening injuries to his head and was also flown to Townsville Hospital for treatment and remains there in a critical but stable condition.

The driver of the Izuzu truck towing a dog trailer, a 61-year-old Sarina man, and a passenger of the Cx5, a 69-year-old Clifton Hill woman, both received minor injuries which were treated in Mackay Base Hospital.

The aftermath of the crash was pure chaos. Debris was strewn across the road, with the Toyota LandCruiser crushed after rolling over and landing on its top.

Two rescue choppers were sent to the scene, along with multiple police, fire and paramedic crews.

The Bruce Highway was closed in both directions until after 6pm.

Multiple vehicles travelling north were backed up for at least three kilometres. Detours were in place at Kinnears Rd.

Forensic Crash Unit Officer in charge Sergeant Michael Hollett, speaking at the scene, said initial reports suggested the northbound Toyota LandCruiser had drifted into the southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway.

The truck involved in the crash. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“It has collided with a southbound truck towing a dog trailer, also southbound was a Mazda CX-5 which was travelling behind the truck and dog trailer and it has got caught up in the impact,” Sgt Hollett said.

“Fine and clear day, good stretch of road, again it shouldn’t have happened.

“A car has drifted out of its lane into an oncoming lane and that’s the result.”

The Mazda travelling behind the truck and dog trailer encountered the aftermath of the crash, and had “no time to react”.

Mackay Inspector Andrew Godbold said the scene was a horrific one for first responders and members of the public.

It is just one of many that police and paramedics have had to face this year in the region, with 12 people having lost their lives in 10 separate crashes.
When asked, he said a duplicate highway would be on ‘anyone’s wish list’.

Police are conducting investigations and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.