Police investigate triple fatality crash on Marlborough Sarina Road

The alleged driver of a sedan involved in a triple fatal crash south of Mackay has left hospital, while a teenage girl has improved and is now in a stable condition. A two-year-old Rockhampton boy was among those killed.

The alleged driver of a sedan involved in a triple fatal crash has left hospital, while a teen girl has improved and is now in a stable condition.

Fatigue and weather may have been factors in a triple fatal crash where a sedan carrying five people rolled in a muddy ditch pinning some passengers under the vehicle.

Paramedics had to wade through mud amid heavy rain to reach the heavily damaged car.

A two-year-old boy was among the three people from Rockhampton killed in the overnight tragedy at Clarke Creek, about 168km south of Mackay, bringing the district road toll to a total of 14.

The victims of the tragic crash have been identified.

Queensland Ambulance Service’s Shane Tucker said it was a “very confronting” scene for everyone involved.

“From my understanding it was a very difficult extraction because the vehicle had rolled and some of the occupants were actually pinned under the car,” the QAS Mackay district senior operations supervisor said.

“Once they were actually freed from the wreckage, there was CPR commenced on the patients.”

Mr Tucker said there were “very challenging conditions” and paramedics had to wade through mud to reach the crash.

Queensland Ambulance Service Mackay district senior operations supervisor Shane Tucker said it was a very confronting scene.

The toddler and a 59-year-old Park Avenue woman were pronounced dead at the scene.

An 18-year-old Rockhampton man was being taken to hospital when he tragically died on the way from his injuries.

An 18-year-old Rockhampton woman was taken to Rockhampton Hospital in a serious condition with head, facial and pelvic injuries. She is now in a stable condition.

A 20-year-old Park Avenue man alleged to be the driver was also taken to hospital with minor injuries and has now been released.

No charges have been laid in relation to the crash.

It is understood some of the occupants are family members.

All five had been travelling in a white Holden Commodore sedan on Marlborough Sarina Rd when it left the road near Grave Gully Bridge and collided with a culvert about 10.15pm, one kilometre south of the May Downs Rd turn off.

It is understood there was no water in the gully at the time.

“Initial indications are that fatigue and inclement weather may have played a part in the crash,” Mackay Country Inspector Damian Wells said.

“Breath tests have been conducted, blood has been taken as part of the investigation.

“There has been a significant amount of rain in the area over the last couple of days, whether that’s contributed to the crash itself is part of the investigation.

About six QAS road crews – two each from Marlborough, Middlemount and Rockhampton – attended the scene.

Because of the wet weather Mr Tucker said the rescue choppers from Mackay or Rockhampton were not able to be called.

The vehicle had left Rockhampton that night and was travelling to Nebo when it crashed.

“Police were on scene all night conducting investigations,” Inspector Wells said, adding this included crews from Saint Lawrence and Sarina and Forensic Crash and Scenes of Crimes units.

“Certainly, our response was hampered by the weather, it’s obviously a lot harder to do this when its pouring rain.”

Inspector Wells said this brought the Mackay district road toll to 14 for 2021.

“Every toss of life is a tragedy but in these particular circumstances where a two year old has been killed is particularly heart wrenching,” he said.

“It’s not only heart wrenching for the families and immediate loved ones of the people involved, the first responders, any witnesses, the community in general is impacted by this.”