A woman and a two-year-old child have tragically lost their lives in a devastating three-vehicle collision in Far North Queensland. Emergency services responded to the scene on Captain Cook Highway at Oak Beach shortly before 4pm on Friday, following reports of a crash south of Port Douglas.
Details of the Collision
Preliminary investigations suggest that a white Mitsubishi Triton utility vehicle struck a red Mazda MX-5 before colliding head-on with a white MG3 hatchback. The driver of the MG3, a 34-year-old woman from Mossman, and an infant passenger could not be revived at the scene and were pronounced dead.
A 22-year-old female passenger was airlifted to Cairns Hospital with life-threatening pelvic and abdominal injuries. She remains in a serious but stable condition. The driver of the utility vehicle, a 62-year-old man from Port Douglas, was transported to Cairns Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is also in a serious but stable condition. The male driver and female passenger in the Mazda were not physically injured.
Community Impact
The crash has deeply affected the local community. The Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks Rugby League Club cancelled all senior weekend fixtures in response to the tragedy. A club jersey was placed at the crash scene on Saturday as a mark of respect. Captain Cook Highway was closed for the remainder of the day, causing significant traffic delays in the region.
Investigation Ongoing
Forensic crash officers are continuing their investigation and will return to the scene in the coming days. Far North Police District Superintendent Mick Searle stated, "It's a head-on crash. There's no escaping that. The images display that very clearly. Why that has occurred is still under investigation." Authorities urge anyone with relevant information or dashcam vision to contact Policelink or Crime Stoppers.
