Three young children injured in horror Bruce Highway crash

A North Qld dad says he is haunted from the ‘helpless, very terrifying’ experience of being entrapped in a car while his three children under six cried for help.

A father says he is haunted from being trapped and helpless while his three young children cried for help following a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.

Paul Garland, 31, said the family was returning home from a great Christmas at Townsville when a Toyota Prado allegedly crossed into their lane.

Two helicopter crews were called to the crash about 10 minutes’ drive north of Proserpine about 1.30pm on Tuesday.

“I had no choice but to break and swerve trying to repel the 4WD,” Mr Garland said.

Mackay dad Paul Garland, his partner, and their three kids, were trapped inside their vehicle after a crash on the Bruce Highway near Proserpine on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Picture: Contributed

The family’s Holden Crewman ute came to rest in a ditch, the bonnet crumpled, and the sides crushed in.

“(I was) trapped and helpless til the fire department arrived,” Mr Garland said.

Mackay dad Paul Garland, his partner, and their three kids, were trapped inside their vehicle after a crash on the Bruce Highway near Proserpine on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Picture: Contributed

Inside the car had been Mr Garland, his 26-year-old partner, and three of their children – two girls aged five and four, and a two-year-old boy.

Mr Garland said the children were “very terrified” and made a “horrible cry a parent never wants to hear”.

“Being trapped in the driver’s seat still haunts me today even though it happened yesterday (Tuesday),” he said.

“Being helpless to your children’s outcries is the worst thing and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.”

Mackay dad Paul Garland, his partner, and their three kids, were trapped inside their vehicle after a crash on the Bruce Highway near Proserpine on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Picture: Contributed

Mr Garland said it was a “very scary” experience and he now felt helpless to his partner as she was left to “hold up the fort” and raise their kids while he tried to recover before heading back to work.

The Toyota Prado also received significant damage with car parts throw metres upon impact.

Seven people were taken to hospital following the crash including five to Proserpine Hospital.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to a two-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway near Proserpine on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue

A Mackay Hospital and Health Service spokesman said this included the three children aged from three to five.

Mr Garland said his two-year-old son and had bumps but was okay and his five-year-old daughter was “knocked around”.

He said his four-year-old daughter suffered a scalped head and a broken leg, and was transferred to Mackay Base Hospital on Tuesday night.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to a two-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway near Proserpine on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue

Mr Garland and his partner were also taken to Proserpine Hospital, with Mr Garland suffering two fractures on his spine, three broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis.

Both have since been discharged.

There were also two people taken to Bowen Hospital in stable condition.

If you’d like to help the Garland family, you can head to the GoFundMe page here.

Originally published as Three young children injured in horror Bruce Highway crash