Tragic Double Fatality on Warrego Highway in Drillham

What happened

Incident Overview

On Thursday, 18 April 2024, a catastrophic two-vehicle collision occurred on the Warrego Highway near Drillham, Queensland, claiming the lives of two people and seriously injuring three others. The crash involved two Holden Colorados, each towing trailers, and resulted in a complete closure of the highway in both directions.

Emergency services attended the scene at approximately 6:00 AM local time. The impact was described as devastating, with the accident occurring over a large area and complicating rescue efforts significantly.

Location and Time

The collision occurred on the Warrego Highway near Drillham at approximately 6:00 AM on Thursday morning, 18 April 2024.

Vehicles Involved

Vehicle 1

• Make/Model: Black 2010 Holden Colorado
• Configuration: towing a trailer

Vehicle 2

• Make/Model: White 2013 Holden Colorado
• Configuration: towing a trailer

Injuries / Fatalities

Fatalities

• 41-year-old woman (deceased at scene)
• 25-year-old man (deceased at scene)

Injuries

• 33-year-old man (airlifted to Brisbane Hospital, critical)
• 49-year-old man (airlifted to Brisbane Hospital, critical)
• 23-year-old man (transported to Miles Hospital, minor injuries)

Community Impact

The Warrego Highway remained closed in both directions as of midday Thursday to allow emergency services to manage the scene and conduct forensic investigations. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

Emergency Response

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics arrived at the scene to find a harrowing sight, with the accident spread across a large area. Belinda Deebank, a spokeswoman for the Queensland Ambulance Service, described the scene as “quite traumatic” for the crews attending.

Two men aged 33 and 49 were critically injured and airlifted to Brisbane for urgent medical treatment. A 23-year-old man was transported by road ambulance to Miles Hospital with minor injuries. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland Police also attended the scene to manage the incident and secure the area.

Investigation

Queensland Police have initiated a forensic crash investigation to determine the specifics of the collision. Authorities are examining the circumstances of the crash, including the condition of both vehicles, road conditions, and the towing configurations at the time of impact.

The investigation is ongoing and will help establish the cause of the incident. Queensland Police are appealing for any motorists who were travelling on the Warrego Highway near Drillham between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM on Thursday morning and may have witnessed the collision or have dashcam footage to come forward.

Appeal for Information

Queensland Police are appealing for witnesses or motorists with dashcam footage of the Warrego Highway near Drillham on the morning of 18 April 2024 to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000. Information can also be submitted online at policelink.qld.gov.au.