Everything we know about Qld’s horror road toll

A string of road tragedies has left Queensland reeling, as the state spirals towards a grim record. EVERYTHING WE KNOW

Shaun Ranger and Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, died on July 20.

A string of road tragedies has left Queensland reeling, as the state spirals towards a grim record.

This is everything we know about those lives lost >>>

What was the timeline of events?

The horror week began on July 14 when Barbra Poen, 79, died while cycling to meet her husband Cornelis and their friends for a weekly coffee catch-up.

Cornelis Poen waited for his wife Barba to return from her yoga class, but tragically, she would never make it home.

On July 16, 14-year-old Declan Phillips died after being struck by a car in Wynnum on his walk to school.

On July 18, three friends, all 19, died after the green Mazda sedan they were in crashed head-on with a ute about 10.30pm on the Mackay Ring Road.

That same night a 26-year-old man died in Tamborine after he fell from his vehicle.

Shaylee Woods, 21, was the passenger in a blue Ford travelling along the Mary Valley Rd when it collided with a white Holden Colorado at Gilldora, 14km south of Gympie, on July 18.

On July 19, a 45-year-old North Mackay man died on the Bruce Highway at Mount Pleasant after he lost control of his motorbike and crashed into the back of a trailer.

Declan Phillips was struck and killed outside of his school.

At 6am that same day, an 18-year-old Kingaroy man, Kyan Martin, who was lying on a road was killed after being struck by a car in Hivesville.

Kyan Martin was killed when he was runover by a vehicle in the South Burnett.

Who were the victims?

Shaun Ranger and Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, died on July 20 when they were involved in a head-on collision with a Toyota HiLux on the Capricorn Highway just before 11am.

On July 14 when Barbra Poen, 79, died while cycling to meet her husband Cornelis and their friends for a weekly coffee catch-up.

Barbel (Barbra) Elisabeth Poen, 79, was riding her e-bike when she was struck by a car at Bonagree on Bribie Island, at around 8.30am.

Declan Phillips, 14, died after being struck by a car in Wynnum on his walk to school.

Shaylee Woods, 21, was the passenger in a blue Ford travelling along the Mary Valley Rd when it collided with a white Holden Colorado at Gilldora, 14km south of Gympie, on July 18.

Kingaroy man, Kyan Martin, 18, was lying on a road and killed after being struck by a car in Hivesville.

Shaylee Woods. Picture: Facebook

What has been the community reaction?

The mother of two young children killed in a horror head-on collision has revealed ‘her babies’ and fiance died while heading home from a camping trip.

Renee Carla shared her devastation on social media after losing fiance Shaun Ranger and Shaun Ranger and Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6.

“My babies and fiance all gone after heading home from a great weekend camping as I was minutes behind in my car with my youngest daughter and friend,” Ms Carla said.

Shaun Ranger and Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, died on July 20.

What are the statistics?

A total of 158 people have died due to road crashes as of July 20.

RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said the state was on track for another deadly year on its roads.

In 2024, road deaths in the state soared to 302, the highest in 15 years.

What are police saying?

Police Minister Dan Purdie said the lives lost were not just statistics, but loved ones, family, friends, and members of the community.

“We mourn deeply for each person whose life has been cut short,” he said.

“Our police are doing everything they can, but enforcement alone is not enough. Road safety is a shared responsibility. I urge every Queenslander to make safe choices, not just for yourself, but for every person on our roads.”

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said he was “deeply saddened” by the lives lost on Queensland roads.

“These are sobering figures, but we know they represent far more than numbers. They are people who will never go home to their family,” he said.

“My thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Steve Newland said, despite increased patrols, operations and public awareness campaigns, there were still “too many Queenslanders taking unnecessary risks” on roads.

What are experts saying?

RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said the state was on track for another deadly year on its roads.

In 2024, road deaths in the state soared to 302, the highest in 15 years.

“We are not going in the right direction. It means we are on track to equal or beat last year’s record,” Dr Kane said.

“Since 2019, our road toll has been trending in the wrong direction … if we had continued with the pre-Covid trend, we would be looking at coming under 200 fatalities this year, but instead we are looking at the road toll getting worse and again being over 300.”

Originally published as Everything we know about Qld’s horror road toll