Seven injured, three fighting for life, after Mackay crash carnage

New details have emerged after nine people were rushed to hospital, four with life threatening injuries, following four separate crashes across the Mackay region. LATEST.

Aftermath of a head-on crash between a small truck and ute on the Bruce Highway in Chelona, south of Mackay, on December 12, 2024. Picture: Fergus Gregg

All nine people rushed to hospital following a spate of serious crashes on Mackay region roads were in a stable condition on Saturday.

It comes after four of those hurt suffered life-threatening injuries.

A woman was initially critical after four vehicles collided outside a mine on the Peak Downs Highway at Strathfield southwest of Mackay.

The accident happened at the South Walker Creek Mine turn-off on Fitzroy Development Rd just after 5pm.

She was taken to hospital in a critical condition on Thursday, but her condition had improved on Saturday.

On Friday night a man in his 50s was taken to hospital after a crash on the corner of MacDonald and Evan Streets about 6pm.

The day before, a crash involving three vehicles happened at Pleystowe, on the corner of Mackay Eungella Road and Pleystowe Connection Road at 8.37pm Thursday.

Queensland Ambulance Service said four patients were taken to Mackay hospital, including a man in his 60s with significant leg injuries and possibly life-threatening injuries.

He is now in a stable position at the Mackay Base hospital.

Two patients in their teens were taken in a stable condition and another with minor injuries.

Police said the crash scene was cleared sometime after midnight with investigations ongoing.

Earlier, in South Mackay, a woman in her 60s escaped with minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash on Milton Street at the football park exit at 8.12pm.

Police said one vehicle was blocking part of the road.

The crashes came after a teenage boy and an elderly man were fighting for their lives after being in their vehicles following a head-on crash on the Bruce Highway south of Mackay.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the call first came in at 2.36pm, for a crash in Chelona involving a ute and a small truck.

It is believed the truck driver had his legs trapped, while the ute driver was “badly” trapped, according to the spokeswoman.

Both drivers have since been freed and transported to Mackay Base Hospital.

Both drivers have been transported to Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Fergus Gregg

The teenage boy, 17 had a significant pelvis injury and is in a serious but stable condition.

The man in his 60s suffered a significant leg injury, along with abdominal and chest pains but is now stable.

The rescue helicopter was requested but was unable to go due to poor weather.

A doctor from the rescue service attempted to reach the scene by car.

Rain battered the crash site as officers from the Forensic Crash Unit arrived on the scene.

FCU Senior Constable Mark Siddall said the ute, which was travelling north, swerved onto the “incorrect side of the road” for an unknown reason, hitting the rear wheels of a B double truck.

“It then caused it to lose further control and go head on into a vehicle behind the B double,” Senior Constable Siddall said.

The crash destroyed the front of the ute and debris was scattered across both lanes of the Bruce Highway, with the remnants of a windshield lying broken in the grass by the road.

FCU officers were seen photographing a Lindsay’s Transport truck close to the scene.

Police said the road reopened around 5:30pm with investigations ongoing.