October 10, 2025

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Incident Overview
A 14-year-old girl from Brunswick Heads has died following a three-vehicle collision on the Bruce Highway near Apple Tree Creek, north of Childers, in the early hours of Friday morning, October 10, 2025.

Preliminary investigations indicate that just before 2:00 am, a Volvo Prime Mover truck travelling north collided with two southbound vehicles — a white Mazda CX-5 and a white Toyota Hilux. The teenage girl, who was a passenger in the Mazda, was declared deceased at the scene.

The 22-year-old female driver of the Mazda, from Sarina, sustained minor injuries and was treated by paramedics. The 22-year-old male Hilux driver, also from Sarina, and the 31-year-old truck driver from Park Ridge were not injured.

“The 14-year-old girl was a passenger in the Mazda. The 22-year-old female driver from Sarina was treated at the scene for minor injuries.” — Queensland Police Service / ABC News

The Bruce Highway was closed in both directions for most of the day while the Forensic Crash Unit investigated the scene.

Location and Time

  • Crash Date: Friday, October 10, 2025 (just before 2:00 am)
  • Location: Bruce Highway, Apple Tree Creek (near Childers), Bundaberg Region, Queensland

Vehicles Involved

  • Volvo Prime Mover truck (northbound), driven by a 31-year-old Park Ridge man (uninjured)
  • White Mazda CX-5 (southbound), driven by a 22-year-old woman from Sarina, carrying a 14-year-old passenger (fatality)
  • White Toyota Hilux (southbound), driven by a 22-year-old man from Sarina (uninjured)

Injuries/Fatalities

  • Fatality:
    • 14-year-old female passenger from Brunswick Heads, deceased at the scene.
  • Other Injuries:
    • 22-year-old female driver of Mazda, minor injuries, treated at the scene.
    • Truck and Hilux drivers uninjured.

Emergency Response

  • Emergency services were called just before 2:00 am after reports of a multi-vehicle collision.
  • Paramedics confirmed the death of the 14-year-old passenger and treated the injured Mazda driver.
  • Police closed the Bruce Highway in both directions, diverting traffic as crash investigators attended.
  • The highway remained closed into the evening while the Forensic Crash Unit conducted detailed examinations.

“The highway is expected to remain closed into the evening while the Forensic Crash Unit investigates.” — ABC Wide Bay

Police Investigation
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating:

  • The sequence of events leading to the collision between the Volvo truck, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota Hilux.
  • Possible contributing factors such as driver fatigue, road alignment, or environmental visibility conditions at the time of impact.
  • Witness statements and dashcam footage from motorists travelling between Bundaberg and Childers in the early hours of October 10.

Community Impact
The death of the 14-year-old girl has devastated the Brunswick Heads and Sarina communities, with locals expressing grief over another young life lost on Queensland’s major highway network. The incident brings the state’s 2025 road toll to 237 deaths, compared to 223 at the same time last year.

“The death takes the Queensland road toll to 237, compared to 223 deaths at the same time last year.” — ABC Wide Bay

Appeal for Information
Authorities are appealing to anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact:

  • Policelink: Report online at [www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting](https://www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting) or call 131 444
  • Crime Stoppers QLD: Call 1800 333 000 or report online at [www.crimestoppersqld.com.au](https://www.crimestoppersqld.com.au)