Community in Mourning After Tragic Outback Crash
Police have confirmed that a man arrested over a fatal crash in the remote outback community of Doomadgee is the father of a 10-year-old girl who died in the incident. The collision, which occurred on Friday morning, has left the small Far North Queensland town reeling from an unimaginable loss.
Details of the Catastrophic Collision
According to Queensland Police Service (QPS), the tragedy unfolded on Doomadgee Road, approximately two hours from the Northern Territory border. Investigators allege that a black 2011 Nissan Maxima rammed a white 2006 Toyota LandCruiser, causing the four-wheel-drive to roll.
The impact proved fatal for a 30-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl who were travelling in the LandCruiser. Three other young children in the vehicle – a one-year-old boy, a three-year-old girl, and a four-year-old boy – sustained injuries.
The three-year-old girl remains in a critical condition at Townsville Hospital, while the two other children are in a stable condition with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Police Investigation and Community Support
The 28-year-old male driver of the Nissan remains in police custody as investigators explore the possibility that the collision was deliberate. He will be transferred to Townsville while remaining in custody.
Acting Superintendent Paul Austin described the scene as "catastrophic" and confirmed that a significant number of specialist officers have been deployed to Doomadgee. Forensic teams from the Homicide Investigation Unit are on the ground, including the forensic crash unit, with additional support from Mount Isa.
"We are always looking to do things better," Austin stated. "Certainly the grief that's being experienced as a result of this incident has been extreme and we will continue to do whatever we can to support the community through this time."
Both vehicles involved in the crash have been transported to Mount Isa for detailed forensic examination. Police have released confronting images of the severely damaged cars, hoping they might help piece together exactly what occurred.
Authorities are appealing to anyone who saw the vehicles in the days or hours before the crash, or who may have dashcam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers. Charges are expected once investigators have gathered sufficient evidence.
