Three killed, one in custody after north Qld crashes

The three people killed were all aged in their 20s as police call for motorists to make every decision behind the wheel count.

Three people under 30 have died, several more have been injured and one man has been charged following two horror crashes less than 2km from each other in North Queensland.

Some members of the emergency services were confronted with both “horrific scenes” within just six hours of each other on Tuesday night.

At 6.30pm, a truck and a Mitsubishi Lancer travelling in opposite directions collided on the Bruce Highway at Mutarnee, north of Townsville.

Following the collision, the Lancer veered off the highway near Ollera Creek Bridge, killing the sole occupant inside, a 27-year-old man.

The 60-year-old Beenleigh man who was driving the truck sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor Wayne Paxton said the accident was “very traumatic”.

The car on fire at Barrett Rd, Mutarnee, on Tuesday night.

Emergency services were called to a crash just 2km north of the earlier fatal scene at midnight after a Toyota LandCruiser crashed into the rear of a stationary Mazda 3 as it travelled south.

The Mazda 3 has then crashed into a Mitsubishi Lancer, which in turn hit another four-wheel-drive.

The sole occupant of the Mazda 3, a 26-year-old Bushland Beach woman, died at the scene.

First aid was rendered to the sole occupant of the Lancer; however, the 23-year-old Atherton man also died at the scene a short time later.

Queensland Police said three other people travelling in the four-wheel driver were treated for minor injuries.

The 31-year-old driver of the LandCruiser from Mundingburra was taken into police custody and transported to hospital with minor injuries.

“The Bruce Highway is expected to be closed in both directions until midmorning,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

“Officers from the forensic crash unit are continuing investigations of both crashes.

“With almost 130 lives lost on our roads this year, police are reminding motorists every decision they make behind the wheel counts.”

Mr Paxton said the impacts of such “acute” jobs on QAS staff were “quite significant”.

“Some officers were at both. They now have vivid memories they have to manage and deal with the horrific scenes they were confronted with,” he said.

Originally published as Three killed, one in custody after north Qld crashes