Toowoomba Queensland crash: New details emerge on horror Jimbour East smash that claimed lives of dad and two teen children – and left their mother fighting for life
Tragic new details have emerged about the horrific crash that left a father and his two children dead while their mother, who was the driver, remains fighting for life in hospital.
Sources close to the investigation believe the children’s mother was reversing along Dalby-Jandowae Road in Jimbour East, northwest of Toowoomba, moments before the crash. The courier post reported.
The family from Western Downs, who were traveling in an older model Nissan Terrano, were hit from behind by a car at around 10.50am on Monday.
The father, 54, and his two children, an 8-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, died at the scene.
Their mother was flown to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital by a LifeFlight team with critical injuries to the chest, abdomen and arms.
A father, 54, and his two children, aged 8 and 15, were killed on Monday when a ute hit them from behind. The children’s mother, who was driving, is in critical condition in hospital (photo emergency responders at the scene of the accident)
It is now believed the mother was reversing on the road in the moments before the crash (photo, crash scene in Jimbour East, northwest of Toowoomba)
The driver of the ute was treated for back injuries before being taken to Dalby Hospital by ambulance.
The family were described as being ‘severely’ trapped in their car.
Addressing the media on Monday, Dalby Patrol Group Inspector Greg Wheeler said the scene was ‘horrific’.
“When children are involved, it’s extra traumatic,” he said.
“You know, one minute there’s a family and the next minute there’s not. It is very difficult to fathom how it actually happened,” he said.
Around 3 p.m., the police chaplain was called to the scene to provide support to the first responders.
Emergency services worked all day to ensure the part of the road where the accident occurred was safe.
Inspector Wheeler said the Forensic Crash Unit would work to put together a series of events that could help prevent similar crashes.
“It was a clear, sunny day and the accident took place on a closed, straight road,” he said.
‘All we can say is: plan your trip, make sure you get home safely, take care of your loved ones and other road users and make sure you are well informed about what you are doing at all times.’
Some road-savvy drivers took to social media to respond to the fatal crash.
Police have urged drivers to be safe, especially with the school holidays fast approaching (photo, accident scene)
‘That road has always been bad. Big long straights, one dip, one change of direction. Bumpy bumpy bouncy road surface! Things were bad in the 1970s. Nothing has changed I see,” one person wrote.
Another replied: ‘People should just drive according to the conditions!’.
Queensland Ambulance Service Dalby officer Alister Batterham urged motorists to exercise caution.
‘With the school holidays just around the corner, this tragic accident is a timely reminder to all take responsibility, adhere to the conditions and ensure we are extra careful with the extra traffic we will have on our roads encounter,” he said.
‘These types of incidents are confronting for emergency services and bystanders who encounter these traffic accidents and alert the emergency services.’