Teenager Critically Injured in Bruce Highway Crash at Cooroy – November 19, 2024

What happened

Incident Overview

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, a teenager was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision on the Bruce Highway near Cooroy, Queensland. The crash occurred just before 7:00 am when a car driven by a male P-plate driver collided with the rear of a truck carrying a mobile crane, leaving the teenager trapped in the vehicle.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services attended the scene and extracted the injured driver. He was treated by paramedics and airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in critical condition. The incident resulted in the partial closure of the northbound lanes and significant traffic disruption.

Location and Time

The collision occurred on the northbound lanes of the Bruce Highway near the Cooroy exit, just before 7:00 am on Tuesday morning, November 19, 2024.

Vehicles Involved

Vehicle 1

• Make/Model: car (details not specified)
• Direction: northbound
• Driver: male teenager, P-plate driver

Vehicle 2

• Make/Model: truck carrying mobile crane
• Direction: northbound
• Driver: details not specified

Injuries / Fatalities

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• Male teenage driver of Vehicle 1 (critical injuries, airlifted to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital)

Community Impact

One northbound lane of the Bruce Highway remained closed following the incident, causing significant traffic disruption and long delays. The crash has renewed focus on safety concerns on the Bruce Highway, which is frequently cited as one of Australia’s most dangerous roads.

Emergency Response

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics, and a rescue helicopter responded to the scene. Fire crews extracted the trapped teenage driver from the vehicle, and paramedics provided treatment at the scene before the patient was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in critical condition.

Investigation

Queensland Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The investigation is examining the factors that led to the rear-end collision, including possible driver inattention, distraction, or fatigue. Police have not yet released further details regarding the truck driver or any charges.

Appeal for Information

Queensland Police are appealing for any witnesses or motorists with dashcam footage of the Bruce Highway near Cooroy between 6:45 am and 7:15 am on November 19, 2024, to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.