Five crashes, six in hospital after man runs on to Bruce Highway

New details into the domino effect that caused a night of mayhem on the Bruce Hwy during which cops had to jump clear of a truck on the Sunshine Coast have emerged. UPDATES

New details have emerged of a night of carnage on the Bruce Highway at Tanawha on Sunday, July 2, including the moment police needed to jump out of the way of a B-double truck.

Police are investigating after five separate crashes on the highway led to six people, including a young boy, being taken to hospital.

Police said the mayhem, which included 10 vehicles, started when a car driven by a 37-year-old Graceville man collided with a barrier while travelling north on the highway near Ilkley Rd about 8pm.

He then left the car and crossed the highway into oncoming traffic, causing one car to swerve and roll. The man was then hit by another car.

Sunshine Coast Police District Chief Inspector Jason Overland said during a press conference on Monday, July 3 all five accidents happened within minutes of each other, with some caused by drivers paying more attention to the unfolding incident than the road.

Sunshine Coast Police District Chief Inspector Jason Overland. Picture: Elizabeth Neil

The last crash, he said, happened when a B-double truck swerved and then hit another car, causing it to roll after locking its wheels on approach to the crash site.

Inspector Overland said the truck narrowly missed a police car and several officers directing traffic on scene were forced to jump out of the way.

“The message there is to drive to the conditions,” Inspector Overland said.

“If you see a police vehicle or police officers directing traffic, make sure you’re paying attention to what they’re doing and slow down and make sure you’ve got plenty of time to react.”

Inspector Overland said the Bruce Hwy was closed for approximately an hour while the crashes were cleared.

Six people, including one pre-teen boy, were taken to hospital after five separate crashes on the Bruce Hwy at Tanawha on Sunday night, July 2. Photos: Contributed

He described the scene as “chaotic” after watching back bodycam footage from one of the officers who attended the scene.

“We’re just very fortunate no one was severely injured. It could have been a lot worse,” he said.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said 11 people were assessed at the scene, but six were taken to hospital.

Four people were taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, including a man in his 30s with head and chest injuries; a woman in her 20s with chest, abdominal and arm injuries; a woman in her 20s with head and hip injuries and a woman in her 20s with hip and leg injuries.

Six people, including one pre-teen boy, were taken to hospital after five separate crashes on the Bruce Hwy at Tanawha on Sunday night, July 2. Photos: Contributed

The man was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition while the women were in stable conditions, they said.

A pre-teen boy and man in his 60s were both taken to Nambour hospital in stable conditions with head injuries.

Witness or anyone with relevant dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to contact police.

Investigations are continuing.

Originally published as Five crashes, six in hospital after man runs on to Bruce Highway