A tragic hit-and-run incident in Queensland has claimed the life of a 92-year-old man, with police urgently searching for the driver of a light-coloured sedan that fled the scene.
Details of the crash
The incident occurred around 1:50pm on Saturday on the New England Highway in Glen Aplin, near Stanthorpe. Police reported that a blue SUV was travelling south when the driver spotted a car approaching on the wrong side of the road.
The SUV driver took evasive action to avoid a collision. Although the two vehicles did not make contact, the SUV struck a water-draining culvert on the roadside, rolled several times, and eventually hit a power pole.
Victims and injuries
A 92-year-old man from Wallangarra, a passenger in the SUV, was pronounced dead at the scene. An 85-year-old woman, also from Wallangarra and another passenger, sustained life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to Stanthorpe Hospital and later airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital.
The driver of the SUV, a 20-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Police investigation
The driver of the other vehicle, which caused the incident by travelling on the wrong side of the road, failed to stop and fled the scene. Police are focusing on identifying this vehicle, described as a light-coloured sedan of unknown make and model.
Authorities are urgently seeking information from anyone who may have seen a vehicle driving erratically in the area or who has dashcam footage from the New England Highway around the time of the crash.
Anyone with information or relevant footage is urged to contact police.
