Man dead and woman critically injured after horror crash on Bruce Highway near Innisfail

A man has been killed in a horror highway crash in the state’s north after the car he was driving smashed into a power pole.

A car has collided into a power pole this afternoon causing severe injuries and extensive blackouts.

A man has died after the car he was driving crashed into an electrical pole, snapping it in two, crushing the roof, and trapping him and a female passenger inside.

The crash occurred on the Bruce Highway near Goondi Bend about 3pm on Tuesday, December 17, after a Red Range Rover hit the power pole and bringing down the power lines.

Emergency services were called to the scene near Innisfail, just after 3pm, with numerous crews in attendance.

The driver of the vehicle, a 66-year-old man from Wongaling Beach was treated at the scene for life threatening injuries but died a short time later.

While the 56-year-old Wongaling Beach woman, sustained “significant chest and abdominal injuries” and was transported to Innisfail Hospital.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed the Forensic Crash Unit is now investigation.

“After the vehicle crashed into power pole, the top part of the pole has then landed on the vehicle,” she said.

“The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating following the fatal traffic crash in Innisfail yesterday.”

Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said four crews had been called to the scene where hydraulic equipment was used to rescue the patients from the vehicle.

“Crews used hydraulic equipment to extricate one patient from the vehicle,” she said.

“After 30 minutes we had one patient being assessed with Queensland Ambulance Service.”

Care Flight paramedics were also tasked to the crash, with the female patient being flown from Innisfail Hospital to Cairns.

“The patient was taken to Innisfail district hospital, she was then transported to Cairns for further treatment,” QAS spokeswoman said.

The crash had also caused extensive blackouts as Ergon Energy worked to get power back to thousands of residents.

A spokesman for Ergon Energy said the incident initially left 1800 residents from Innisfail and surrounding areas without power but the majority of those were restored promptly, the remaining 119 people were expected to have power return by midnight.

QFD crews remained on scene until 4.40pm assisting with highway management and powerline safety.

“We remained on scene to wait for and assist Ergon with the power lines that were down,” QFD spokeswoman said.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam vision to contact police.

Originally published as Man dead and woman critically injured after horror crash on Bruce Highway near Innisfail