Crews respond to Mount Marlow Whitsundays crash on Shute Harbour Rd

A tragic car crash near a Queensland tourism hotspot has taken the life of a pregnant woman and her mother, and sent her partner to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Shute Harbour Road connects Airlie Beach to the Bruce Highway via Proserpine. Picture: Google Maps

A pregnant woman, her unborn child and mother have lost their lives in a horror crash in the Whitsundays that sent six more people to hospital.

The Sunday 1pm crash near Mount Marlow occured when a Nissan Navara carrying four people travelling towards Airlie Beach crossed onto the other side of the road and collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser, also carrying four.

Queensland Police Service Acting Inspector Mitch Benson confirmed that a 60 year old woman and her 35 year old pregnant daughter, both passengers in the Navara, were killed in the incident.

“The (35 year old) passenger was the wife of the driver and the two rear passengers were the parents of the deceased,” Acting Inspector Benson said.

Acting Inspector confirmed that a pregnant woman in the passengers seat, and her mother, had been killed. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The driver of the Navara was the pregnant woman’s husband, and was airlifted in a critical condition. He is still fighting for his life.

Her father was in the back with her mother.

The four passengers in the Landcruiser were all hospitalised, the driver facing the most significant injuries was helicoptered out.

One driver was taken to Townsville University Hospital and the other to the Mackay Base Hospital.

Acting Inspector Benson confirmed the two deceased women and their husbands were locals to the to the Whitsundays while the Toyota LandCruiser had a Victorian registration, potentially carrying tourists.

The other passengers of the LandCruiser were taken to Proserpine hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This crash brings the total number of traffic fatalities in the Greater Whitsundays district up to 14, an increase of four from this time last year.

“This is a tragic event,” Mr Benson said.

“It’s something we don’t want to see on our roads.”