January 20, 2026
Police are appealing for any possible witnesses following an horrific head-on collision on the Bunya Highway on Monday night in which three people died.
Forensic crash officers are investigating the cause of the crash which occurred on a 100km/h stretch of the highway between Stuart Valley Drive and Boonenne-Ellesmere Road just after 10:00pm.
A Dodge Ram utility pulling a trailer, heading southwards, burst into flames after a collision with a Ford Ranger ute.
Eight fire crews were called to the crash site.
A police spokesperson said a 34-year-old Kingaroy man was the sole occupant of the Ram.
He died at the scene.
A 44-year-old Kingaroy woman driving the Ranger and her 12-year-old daughter also died.
The woman’s second daughter, aged 13, was taken to Kingaroy Hospital in a serious but stable condition and was later airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital with significant injuries to her legs and pelvis.
Inspector Scott Stahlhut, from the South Burnett Patrol Group, said the woman and her two daughters had connections to Dalby and throughout the South Burnett.
He said he had spoken to the mayors of both the South Burnett and Cherbourg councils as there were connections to both communities.
The highway was still closed at 6:30am on Tuesday with diversions in place while investigators and tow trucks were at the scene.
It reopened about 8:00am.
Inspector Stahlhut said it was too early to say what caused the crash.
Forensic Crash Unit investigators attended the scene and police were also awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations.
He acknowledged the efforts of QAS paramedics and Queensland Fire Department rescue crews with specialised equipment at the incident.
“We were able to get that young girl out of the vehicle and get her medical attention ASAP,” Inspector Stahlhut said.
Anyone who may have been travelling in the Taabinga area around the time of the crash, and may have information, has been urged to contact PoliceLink on 131-444.
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