Man killed in D’Aguilar Highway horror after Triton veers into oncoming traffic

A 51-year-old man who was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time has died and several others are badly injured after a horror head on smash on a major highway northwest of Brisbane.

A 51-year man has died in a horror head-on crash north of Brisbane leaving four others, including a teenage boy, in hospital.

The man was travelling eastbound along the D’Aguilar Highway, driving a Landcruiser with a 49-year-old woman and 13-year-old boy as passengers, at about 10.20am near Stony Creek when it collided head-on with another car.

A Triton travelling in the opposite direction swerved and smashed into the Landcruiser - killing the 51-year-old driver who was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Moreton North Patrol Inspector Paul Ready said initial police investigations indicated the Triton had a mechanical fault which caused it to veer into the Landcruiser.

The Glamorgan Vale man, 51, suffered significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It is still being investigated, it may appear there was some sort of mechanical issues which has caused one car to veer into the path of another,” said Insp Ready.

Moreton North Patrol Inspector Paul Ready confirming a 51-year-old man died in the horror crash.

The 13-year-old boy sustained minor injuries and has been taken to the Children’s Hospital.

The woman, 49, from the Landcruiser was airlifted to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

A 52-year-old Kidman Creek woman who was driving the Triton was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a serious condition.

The other passenger in the Triton, a 58-year-old man, was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a stable condition.

Inspector Ready said the vehicles were found off the road in dense scrubland, off a narrow stretch of the highway, which made removing people from the cars a “daunting task and a difficult situation”.

He praised the efforts of an off-duty paramedic who stopped to render assistance until more crews arrived.

“It is a tragic, tragic incident,” Insp Ready said.

With families due to start returning home as school holidays draw to a close Insp Ready asked all motorists to take care on the road.

“It is a terrible start and unfortunate set of circumstances,” he said.

“Take it easy and arrive safely. It is not only how you drive but what you drive on the road network and make sure all your vehicles are fit for purpose and use on the road.”

Several people were trapped after the smash, with one of the cars ‘flipping’, an ambulance spokeswoman said.

The highway remains closed with diversions in place.

Both lanes of the D’aguilar Highway at Stony Creek have been closed due to a serious traffic crash. Diversions soon to be in place, however motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible. #qldtrafficpic.twitter.com/deSaRigvuO

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) January 7, 2022

The response from emergency services was significant, following multiple reports of critical injuries from the scene with six fire and rescue crews working to free those trapped.

Two rescue helicopters also responded and airlifted the injured.

Queensland Ambulance Service Operations Supervisor Zoe Henrichs revealed highly skilled paramedics from varying backgrounds attended the horror incident about 10.45am.

“We had a huge response with two helicopters, critical care paramedics, high acuity paramedics and multiple advanced care paramedics,” Ms Henrichs said.

“This was a big response from all services and we all worked really well together on scene. “We had many paramedics on scene with multiple skill sets including high acuity.”

The Queensland Ambulance Service had previously reported multiple people were transported to hospital in a critical condition - including a child - however later on Friday confirmed some reports of critical injuries had been downgraded.

It’s believed wet weather and slippery roads may have been a contributing factor to this morning’s crash, with Ms Henrich urging motorists to take care on roads.

“Slow down and drive to the conditions, particularly in wet weather,” she said.

Highly trained emergency responders used cutting equipment to gain access to the injured.

Police diversions are in place and motorists are being urged to avoid the area where possible, however can travel along Kilcoy Beerwah Rd and Neurum Road.

Originally published as Man killed in D’Aguilar Highway horror after Triton veers into oncoming traffic