Woman dies after teen’s alleged carjacking, premier vows action ‘for a state reeling’

A teenager who allegedly stole an Audi at gunpoint has been charged with killing a 69-year-old woman after a “high-impact collision” involving three vehicles, including a police car.

Acting Chief Superintendent Adam Guild said police received reports of a vehicle being stolen at gunpoint on Dohles Rocks Road at Murrumba Downs about 9.30am on Thursday.

The aftermath of the fatal crash at Murrumba Downs near Brisbane.Credit: Nine News

“Shortly after this incident, a stolen blue Audi sedan was travelling along Dohles Rocks Road … [and] at that time a collision has occurred with a Toyota sedan that was turning right from Dohles Rocks Road into McClintock Drive,” he said.

The crash trapped the sole occupant of the Toyota – a 69-year-old woman – in her vehicle.

Officers began CPR, but paramedics and police could not save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Premier David Crisafulli has offered his condolences to the woman’s family, declaring his LNP government was “ready to offer support and the action required for a state reeling from this tragedy”.

Guild said after the high-impact crash with the Toyota, the stolen Audi hit a stationary unmarked police car at the intersection.

“The police vehicle had been pre-deployed across that suburb to try to identify the location of that stolen vehicle,” Guild said.

Paramedics also treated the 16-year-old for leg injuries and transported him to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he remained in custody and under police guard.

On Thursday night he was charged with manslaughter, armed robbery and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, as well as two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

The two officers in the unmarked police vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Guild said searches of the stolen vehicle had uncovered “what we described as a firearm” and ballistic testing would be part of the continued investigation into the crash.

“It will be alleged that a male offender has used a firearm in [the vehicle theft],” Guild said.

Guild said the 16-year-old was known to police and “currently [had] matters before the court” but “at this time, it is my understanding he wasn’t on bail”.

Responding to the rush-hour incident, Crisafulli said the news was “harrowing”, and the woman’s family was “owed answers”.

“A family is coming to terms with the loss of a loved one and the thoughts and prayers of an entire state are with them,” he said in a statement.

“I want to assure Queenslanders we stand ready to offer support and the action required for a state reeling from this tragedy.

“I’ll have more to say about the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking situation in the days ahead.”

The 16-year-old was due to appear in Brisbane Childrens Court on Friday.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.