Nurse, elderly patient dead in horror ambulance crash near Rockhampton

Queensland’s road toll has increased by three in the space of 24 hours, including the death of a nurse and patient in a horror ambulance crash.

A nurse and elderly ambulance passenger are dead and several others injured after a horror crash at roadworks near Rockhampton.

The 65-year-old male nurse and 87-year-old male ambulance passenger were among seven people involved in Monday’s crash when a truck crashed into the rear of the emergency vehicle at Stanwell about lunchtime on Monday.

Police said the ambulance was stopped at temporary traffic lights for roadworks when the collision occurred, the truck pushing it off the road and causing it to roll.

Five people were travelling in the ambulance, which was reportedly travelling from Biloela to Rockhampton, with the elderly patient and nurse dying at the scene.

The driver of the truck, a man in his 40s, was taken to Rockhampton Hospital in a serious condition.

Two people were killed in a tragic crash on the Capricorn Highway west of Rockhampton on Monday.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath acknowledged the tragedy in state parliament on Tuesday.

Queensland Health director-general John Wakefield is among a contingent who will visit health staff and colleagues from Rockhampton and Biloela to provide support.

Meanwhile, the forensic crash unit reported another fatal accident in the early hours of Tuesday, just south of Brisbane.

An 18-year-old Thornlands man is dead after his vehicle struck a power pole at Sheldon at about 4am.

Police said the man’s Mitsubishi Lancer was travelling south on West Mt Cotton Rd when it veered off the road. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle and died at the scene.

Originally published as Nurse, elderly patient dead in horror ambulance crash near Rockhampton