Hervey Range Road: Three injured in head-on traffic smash near Townsville

The Australian Defence Force has confirmed that two soldiers were injured in a serious head-on accident on the Hervey Range Road on Thursday.

The Townsville-based Queensland Government Air (QGAir) rescue helicopter landing at Ingham Hospital on Wednesday. The helo has been tasked to respond to reports of a head-on accident on Harvey Range Road west of Townsville City at 6.10pm. Picture: Cameron Bates

The Australian Defence Force has confirmed that two soldiers were injured in a serious head-on accident on the Hervey Range Road on Thursday evening.

The ADF confirmed the two defence personnel were returning from a training activity in the Townsville Field Training Area when the accident occurred near the Keel Bottom Bridge at 5.56pm.

“Emergency services were called immediately and Army personnel provided immediate assistance,” a Defence spokesman said.

“Three people sustained injuries as a result of the accident, including the two soldiers and a civilian.”

The spokesman said the two soldiers received non-life threatening injuries.

“Defence takes the safety of the Townsville community very seriously, and takes safety precautions when using civilian roads,” he said.

“Defence will conduct a full investigation into the causes of the accident.”

It is understood that despite their injuries, the ADF personnel were able to render assistance to the driver of the second vehicle who was trapped in the wreckage of his vehicle.

The driver suffered serious facial, arm, chest, abdominal and internal injuries and was flown from the scene by Queensland Government Air (QGAir) helicopter to Townsville University Hospital (TUH).

Queensland police and soldiers from the ADF guard the scene of a crash on Hervey Range Rd.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) said the driver remained in a stable condition on Friday.

The Hervey Range Rd was closed for at least four hours as the crash investigations continued overnight Thursday.

Originally published as Hervey Range Road: Three injured in head-on traffic smash near Townsville