Doomadgee crash: Man arrested after ‘catastrophic’ collision kills mother and 10-year-old girl, Queensland
A man has been arrested after a “catastrophic” crash in north-west Queensland that killed a mother and her 10-year-old daughter and injured three other children.
Emergency services were called to Doomadgee Road just after 6.30am on Friday, where a black 2011 Nissan Maxima and a white 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser collided near the remote Indigenous community of Doomadgee.
The driver of the Land Cruiser, a 30-year-old woman from Cloncurry, died at the scene with critical injuries despite the intervention of paramedics. Her 10-year-old daughter was rushed to Doomadgee Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Three children, including a one-year-old boy, a three-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, were also injured. While two of the injured, whose injuries are not life-threatening, are being treated, one of them is in critical condition.
Police later confirmed that the driver of the Nissan, 28-year-old Doomadgee, who is now in custody, was known to the victims. Deputy Commissioner Paul Austin said the man was in a relationship with the woman killed in the crash and was the father or stepfather of the children.
Investigators are also assessing domestic violence as part of their investigation.
He remains in police custody while investigations continue.
Acting Supt Austin described the crash as “nothing short of a tragedy”.
“What happened on Friday is nothing short of a tragedy and our officers are committed to fully investigating what happened, as well as working with the Doomadgee community,” Supt Austin said.
Photos released by police show both vehicles, a Land Cruiser and a Nissan, with extensive damage, their windshields shattered and their airbags deployed.
“The footage of these vehicles is conflicting but we hope they can assist our investigations into this matter and help our officers better understand what happened,” Supt Austin said.
Police urged anyone who saw the vehicle in the hours or days before the crash to come forward.
“We would appeal for anyone who may have seen these vehicles or interacted with their occupants in the days or hours before Friday to contact Doomadgee or Mount Isa Police, as well as Crime Stoppers or Policelink,” Supt Austin said.
It has been declared a crime scene, where forensic crash investigators continue to work through debris and evidence in the area.
Supt Austin told the ABC investigators were investigating all possibilities, including whether domestic violence or other factors played a role, but it was too early to confirm the cause.
“As you can imagine, this is an absolutely tragic incident. The investigation must be methodical and thorough,” he said.
Local police were working to support the grieving community, which was reeling from the “catastrophic accident”, he added.
“The suffering caused by this incident is absolutely enormous,” he said.
“We will continue to do our best to support the community in this process.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au.
