A mother and her 12-year-old daughter were among three people killed in a head-on crash in Australia on Monday, according to reports.
On Jan. 19, police believe two vehicles collided on the Bunya Highway in southern Queensland shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time, according to news.com.au, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and 9News.
The 44-year-old mother was driving a Ford Ranger with her two daughters, ages 12 and 13, when the crash occurred, ABC reported. The 34-year-old male driver of a Dodge Ram also died.
In a news release, Queensland Police said the Dodge caught fire following the collision.
“The male driver and sole occupant of the Ram died at the scene,” police said. “The 44-year-old female driver of the Ranger and one of the passengers, a 12-year-old girl, were also killed.”
Police added that the 13-year-old girl, who was also in the Ranger, was taken to Kingaroy Hospital in a serious but stable condition before being airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
“The Highway remains closed with diversions in place while investigations at the scene are completed. No further information is available at this time,” police said.
South Burnett Patrol Group Inspector Scott Stahlhut told ABC it remains unclear what caused the crash.
“Both vehicles collided head on, it’s a 100km/h zone so traveling at speed,” he said. “It was quite a large scene under the circumstances.”
Inspector Stahlhut said the Dodge Ram was towing a trailer and traveling south at the time of the crash. He added that the vehicle was engulfed in flames when authorities arrived.
“That was a major concern for the first responders to contain that fire … to increase the chances of survival,” he said.
“We are a relatively small, tight-knit area, most people know each other,” he added. “The impacts are quite catastrophic for the families involved.”
The Bunya Highway has since reopened after being closed the night of the crash.
