An Ayr woman has died in a horror highway crash

Police and crash investigators are calling for witnesses to come forward after a devastating three-vehicle crash south of Townsville on Sunday afternoon.

UPDATE – MONDAY:

POLICE and crash investigators are calling for witnesses to come forward after a devastating three-vehicle crash south of Townsville on Sunday afternoon.

A 47-year-old Ayr woman died at the scene of the three-vehicle head-on crash, which happened at 5pm on Sunday.

A further three occupants in the Mazda, including two young children and a 30-year-old woman, were transported to Townsville University Hospital in a critical condition.

A male child suffered from abdominal and facial injuries, while the female child was left with head, pelvic, shoulder and abdominal injuries.

The 30-year-old woman was transported in a critical condition with leg, chest and pelvic injuries.

The two occupants of the four-wheel drive, a 22-year-old Ayr man and 30-year-old Kelso man were also taken to hospital.

The 44-year-old male driver of a third car was not injured in the crash.

Crash investigators are appealing to drivers or anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have dashcam vision, to contact police.

Police Link: https://bit.ly/3nKqmqF

UPDATE – SUNDAY: A WOMAN has died after a horror highway rollover south of Townsville.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the three-vehicle head-on crash about 5.9km south of the city at 5pm.

Police believe alcohol might have contributed to the crash that killed the 47-year-old driver.

The woman was driving a Mazda sedan which was struck head-on by another car, police say.

Townsville Police District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Joe Matheson said a collision between two separate vehicles occurred just before the car was hit.

“At this stage initial inquiries reveal that a Prado had been travelling south on the highway when it’s clipped a Toyota Corolla travelling north,” he said.

“It appears it forced the Toyota Corolla off the road and then it has collided basically head-on with a Mazda sedan.”

He said that whether or not alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash was under investigation.

Sergeant Matheson said members of the public, including doctors and nurses, were first on the scene and desperately tried to save the woman’s life.

The 30-year-old female passenger of the Mazda is in a critical condition at Townsville University Hospital.

Two children, who were also travelling in the Mazda have been taken to hospital with one stable and the other critical.

The two male occupants of the Prado are in a stable condition

Sergeant Matheson said the male driving the Corolla was not injured and did not require medical treatment.

“He is shaken up,” he said.

“The actual impact forced (his car) to spin around and face in the opposite direction.

“It is a horrific scene for everyone involved and even the witnesses.”

Diversions remain in place with the Bruce Highway closed until officers from the Forensic Crash Unit finish their investigation.

UPDATE: THE Bruce Highway will remain shut for several hours following a serious crash south of Townsville.

Five people have been taken to Townsville University Hospital where a child, and a woman in her 30s, remain in a critical condition.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said two men in their 20s were also injured, with one serious and the other stable.

Another child is stable after being taken to hospital.

A sixth patient remains critical at the scene.

A witness at the scene told the Bulletin that traffic is backed up for several kilometres.

Police have taped off an area as they investigate what led up to the crash. The same witness said tyre skid marks lead to where the mangled vehicles sit.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said lengthy delays were expected with a diversion in place around the crash which involved a 4WD and a sedan at Julago, near Billabong Sanctuary.

Light vehicles can detour through Woodstock-Giru Road, but police said the route is not suitable for trucks or other heavy vehicles.

There are extensive delays in both directions on the Bruce Highway near Julago as police and emergency services attend a serious traffic crash. Motorists are urged to be patient and avoid the area if possible. #qldtrafficpic.twitter.com/IzgJRVqtzM

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) October 31, 2021

INITIAL: EMERGENCY services are at the scene of a serious crash south of Townsville where crews are fighting to save an infant’s life.

Paramedics are performing CPR on an infant on the Bruce Highway where a 4WD and sedan have rolled.

Firefighters are working to cut a passenger from the mangled sedan, which has been draped in a white sheet, as traffic backs up on the major highway.

The highway remains cut in both directions with the Forensic Crash Unit en route to the crash near Billabong Sanctuary at Julago.

There are grave concerns for the safety of the passengers, including children, are crews work

to free them from the wreck.

Three patients are in critical condition.

Images from the scene show the 4WD on its back on the side of the road.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed crews were tasked to the multiple vehicle rollover on the Bruce Highway just before 5pm.

She said critical care paramedics were treating about six patients at the scene but was unable to confirm further details.

More to come.

Originally published as An Ayr woman has died in a horror highway crash