Tragic Legacy Way Tunnel Crash Claims Two Lives, Leaves One Critical in Brisbane

What happened

Incident Overview

On Wednesday, 2 May 2024, a catastrophic three-vehicle collision occurred in the city-bound lanes of the Legacy Way tunnel at Mount Coot-Tha, Brisbane, claiming two lives and leaving a third person in critical condition.

The crash involved a black Audi S3, a silver sedan, and a small truck. Queensland Police and emergency services attended the scene at approximately 3:10 PM, with the incident extending over several hundred metres within the tunnel.

Location and Time

The collision occurred in the city-bound lanes of the Legacy Way tunnel at Mount Coot-Tha, Brisbane, at approximately 3:10 PM on Wednesday afternoon.

Vehicles Involved

Vehicle 1

• Make/Model: Black Audi S3
• Direction: city-bound through tunnel
• Driver: male (deceased at scene)

Vehicle 2

• Make/Model: Silver sedan
• Direction: city-bound through tunnel
• Driver: male (critically injured)
• Passenger: female (deceased at scene)

Vehicle 3

• Make/Model: Small truck
• Direction: city-bound through tunnel

Vehicle 4 (Secondary Impact)

• Make/Model: White van
• Direction: city-bound through tunnel

Injuries / Fatalities

Fatalities

• Male driver of the black Audi S3 (deceased at scene)
• Female passenger of the silver sedan (deceased at scene)

Injuries

• Male driver of the silver sedan (critically injured, undergoing urgent surgery at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital)
• Occupant of white van involved in secondary impact (transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries)

Community Impact

The Legacy Way tunnel was closed for over two hours following the collision, causing significant traffic delays throughout the Brisbane area. The incident extended over several hundred metres within the tunnel, requiring extensive emergency response and scene management.

Emergency Response

Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, and Queensland Police attended the scene immediately following the collision. Multiple ambulances and fire rescue teams were dispatched to manage the complex incident and extract occupants from the vehicles.

Two patients were transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. One occupant was undergoing urgent surgery for critical injuries, while a fourth person involved in a secondary impact with the white van was transported with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigation

Queensland Police are leading the investigation into the collision. Inspector Steve Crabbe highlighted the complexity of the crash scene, which extended over several hundred metres within the tunnel. Authorities are actively investigating the sequence of events, with particular focus on the black Audi S3’s movements and actions prior to the initial impact.

Police have appealed to the public for any information regarding the black Audi S3’s movements before the incident, including dashcam footage or witness observations from motorists in the tunnel at the time.

Appeal for Information

Queensland Police are appealing for witnesses, motorists with dashcam footage, or any persons with information about the collision to contact them immediately. Anyone with relevant information is urged to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation.