Highway horror: Bowen teen killed on way home from party when ute and B double collided near Nebo

The 18 year old died at the scene after a ute and B double fuel tanker collided west of Mackay.

UPDATE 1PM: Two Bowen men were on their way home from a party in Moranbah when their Nissan dual-cab ute and a diesel tanker collided on the Peak Downs Highway.

The 18-year-old passenger in the severely damaged ute died at the scene while the male driver, also 18, remains in Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.

The driver of the truck was not physically injured in the horrific smash shortly before 5.30am.

Initial police investigations indicate the two vehicles collided head-on, with the ute headed east towards Mackay.

Debris was littered across the bitumen, and the prime mover‘s bullbar appeared to have been torn off the vehicle which came to a stop blocking eastbound lanes.

Its front-end was severely damaged.

The two men in the ute are believed to have been at a party in Moranbah on Saturday night, and are understood to have been travelling home to Bowen.

The truck was one of several Hills Tankers on the highway, believed to have been headed towards Glenden.

The tankers, filled with diesel, were not impacted in the collision.

The Peak Downs Highway reopened to traffic about 12.30pm after the ute was retrieved from the bottom of a steep embankment on the westbound lanes of the road.

Investigations are continuing.

This comes two months after 13-year-old Bailey Pini was killed in a fiery crash in Bowen and brings the Mackay district road toll to eight for 2021, and is six less than the 14 lives lost during the same time frame 12 months before.

Fatal crashed spiked from 11 deaths in 2019 to 24 in 2020 within the district despite lockdowns imposed under Covid-19 restrictions.

A man has died overnight in a crash on the Peak Downs Highway near Nebo that has closed the roadway for several hours in February 2021.

In February this year Dysart father-of-three Christopher Zarvalis was also killed in a crash on the Peak Downs Highway at Nebo.

Dashcam footage captured the moment the front of his dual cab ute collided with an ongoing truck at Fiery Creek on February 26, 2021.

It is understood he had left Mackay late at night and was on his way home to Dysart when the crash occurred about 12.30am.

Father of three Christopher Zarvalis died at the scene of the crash on the Peak Downs Highway on Friday, February 26. Picture: Facebook

UPDATE: A teen passenger in a ute travelling to Mackay has died after the vehicle and a B double fuel tanker collided near Nebo.

Investigations into the cause are under way, but police confirmed the tragedy involving a Bowen man this morning.

Nebo police officer in charge Andrew Perrett said the man had been travelling in a Nissan ute towards Mackay when it and a B Double tanker full of fuel crashed on the Peak Downs Highway about 5.15am.

An 18 year old died at the scene.

The tanker had been travelling towards Glenden and is currently blocking both lanes of the highway, while the ute is down an embankment.

A ute and B double fuel tanker collided on the Peak Downs Highway at Nebo. Photo: Tara Miko

Senior Constable Perrett said both vehicles were significantly damaged in the crash. Debris from the vehicles is scattered across the highway.

The driver of the ute, also 18 year old from Bowen, was taken to Mackay Base Hospital for observation and Senior Constable Perrett could not confirm if the driver had suffered any injuries.

The truck driver had since left the scene. Senior Constable Perrett said both drivers were “suffering from shock” from the crash.

Police on scene at a fatal crash on the Peak Downs Highway smash near Nebo. Photo: Tara Miko

There were misty conditions this morning and while forensic crash officers are investigating the cause of the crash, Senior Constable Perrett said fog was a factor motorists should always be mindful of “on the roads out here”.

“As well as anything related to fatigue,” he said.

It is understood police were in the process of notifying next of kin.

EARLIER: Police are on scene at a serious highway crash west of Mackay where a B double truck and vehicle collided.

The crash occurred about 5.19am on the Peak Downs Highway, about 20km east of Nebo.

One person suffered critical injuries in the collision. Paramedics took a second person to Mackay Base Hospital with a head injury.

A third person declined transport to hospital.

It is understood the second vehicle was significantly damaged in the crash.

The Peak Downs Highway near Nebo is expected to be blocked until late Sunday morning. Photo: Tara Miko

Forensic crash officers will investigate the collision.

More to come on this incident later.

Paramedics took another patient to Clermont Hospital following a crash at Kilcummin about 5.24am.

The incident occurred on the Gregory Developmental Road and Miclere Road intersection.

One person was taken to hospital with serious but stable injuries.