March 17, 2018
A 34-year-old Kingaroy man was killed in a head-on crash on the Burnett Highway, north of Booubyjan, on Saturday morning.
The man was travelling north with a 12-year-old boy in a Hyundai sedan when the incident occurred about 10:50am on a bend of the highway near Tomine Creek bridge.
Goomeri police were first on the scene, with ambulance and QFES personnel quickly following.
Two RACQ LifeFlight helicopters landed on the highway to assist.
The young boy was airlifted in the first helicopter to Lady Cilento Hospital in Brisbane with non-life threatening injuries.
A woman aged in her 20s, travelling south in a Toyota RAV4, was airlifted in the second helicopter to Bundaberg Hospital, also with non-life threatening injuries.
“It was quite a technical rescue as the occupants were heavily trapped in their vehicles – the crew worked tirelessly to free them,” Acting Inspector John Pappas, from Maryborough QFES said.
Goomeri SES members directed traffic to a diversion route while the Burnett Highway was closed to through traffic; the highway re-opened about 5:30pm.
UPDATED March 18: Murgon Mustangs junior rugby league club has announced on Facebook that U14s coach Andrew Cole died in this crash. His son, Mustangs U14 player Bailey, was severely injured. The club will be holding a barbecue and hosting QRL “State of Mind” representatives on Tuesday (March 20) at 4:30pm. Club members and family have been invited to attend at the Murgon Showgrounds to gather and show support.
