Drivers hospitalised after Bruce Highway crash horror

One of the drivers in a horror head-on collision on the Bruce Highway is still fighting for life, while another driver’s condition has improved. Miraculously, a six month old baby was unscathed.

Firefighters works at the scene of the head on crash on the Bruce Highway: Photo: RACQ Capricorn Rescue

One of the drivers injured in the horror head-on collision which shut down the Bruce Highway in both directions for six hours south of Gladstone on Wednesday is now in a stable condition.

The driver of the Mazda ute was still in a critical condition in Rockhampton Hospital on Friday (December 22) morning.

The Emerald man driving the Toyota ute was also taken to Bundaberg Hospital and was also in a critical condition on Friday morning.

However, as of midday he is stable.

The utes collided shortly before 11am near the Three Mile Creek Bridge, 5km south of Bororen, 60km south of Gladstone and 9km north of Miriam Vale.

Aerial footage revealed the carnage of the crash on the Bruce Highway, which involved seven people – four of them children.

There was a man and child, related to each other, in one vehicle and a family of five in the other.

The driver of the Mazda, a 45-year-old Western Australia man, sustained critical injuries and was flown to Rockhampton Hospital.

Queensland Ambulance Service reported he had a serious leg injury.

The passenger of the Mazda, a 10-year-old boy, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, believed to be a head laceration, but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The driver of the Toyota, a 31-year-old Emerald man, sustained critical injuries and was also flown to Bundaberg Hospital.

Queensland Ambulance Service reported he had received pelvis and chest injuries.

The passengers of the Toyota, a 31-year-old Emerald woman, a 7-year-old boy, a 4-year-old boy and a 6-month-old baby girl, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported via road ambulance to Gladstone Hospital as a precaution.

They were discharged within 24 hours.

Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision have been urged to contact police.

The scene of the Bororen crash on the Bruce Highway on December 20 2023 Photo: RACQ Capricorn Rescue

Both vehicles were dual cab utes with bull bars and have been smashed in at front with rubbish strewn and things from inside the vehicles strewn across the highway.

Two males from each vehicle were reportedly trapped for about one hour before they were freed by emergency services personnel.

The other passengers were able to remove themselves with the assistance of bystanders.

Location of Bororen crash on December 20, 2023.

Paramedics were still on scene at 1pm and the RACQ Capricorn Rescue from Rockhampton and RACQ LifeFlight from Bundaberg had arrived.

The Rockhampton helicopter left base at 11.20am and left the scene at approximately 2pm.

The Bundaberg helicopter was called in for extra assistance just after 12pm and left just after the Rockhampton helicopter.

Photos from RACQ Capricorn Rescue from the Bororen crash on the Bruce Highway on December 20 2023

 

The highway was closed in both directions from 11am and traffic was heavily banked up at Miriam Vale as many were travelling north and south for the Christmas holidays.

There was an alternative detour through Blackman Gap, however it was through dirt and not suitable for all vehicles.

The highway reopened in all directions at 5.22pm.

Forensic Crash Unit investigators travelled from Rockhampton to inspect the site and are continuing investigations.

Originally published as Drivers hospitalised after Bruce Highway crash horror