Coronial inquest for the deaths of Charmaine McLeod and her children

A coronial inquest will probe how authorities acted in the months leading up to the deaths of a mother and her four children in a horror crash.

An inquiry into the deaths of a Queensland mother and her four children who died in a fiery crash hours away from their home will be heard by the state coroner after police launched an investigation into the possible murder-suicide.

Charmaine McLeod was driving her station wagon on the Bunya Highway at Kumbia, in the South Burnett region, in May 2019.

Her four children Wyatt, Aaleyn, Zaidok and Matilda were in the back of the car during the late-night drive.

As Ms McLeod attempted to overtake a truck, the car collided head-on with another truck travelling in the opposite direction.

The Hervey Bay woman and her four children, all aged under seven, were all killed.

Charmaine Harris McLeod with her four children, Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok.

Ms McLeod and three of her children died at the scene, while another died en route to Brisbane hospital.

The truck driver was injured during the fiery crash.

A coronial inquest has been set for May 31 and will run for more than two weeks in the Coroners Court of Queensland in Brisbane.

Coroner Kerrie O’Callaghan will hear evidence from multiple witnesses, including police and medical staff, about the months leading up the crash.

She will also evaluate how the family died and the possible cause of the crash.

The coroner will hear evidence from medical and police witnesses about their interactions with Ms McLeod in the months leading up to the crash.

The inquest was launched to evaluate the appropriateness and adequacy of the police responses to the complaints of domestic and family violence and allegations of abuse made by Charmaine McLeod against her and her children.

Ms McLeod’s mental health care, treatment and monitoring by Queensland Health will also be examined by the coroner.

The coroners court will also look at the responses by relevant agencies to the protection, safety and welfare of the children, including Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Health.