A man has been taken into custody following a devastating car crash in Queensland, Australia, that claimed the lives of a 30-year-old mother and her 10-year-old daughter while injuring her three other children.
According to Queensland police, the collision occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, in the rural Indigenous community of Doomadgee. Investigators said the mother was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser with her four children — ages 1, 3, 4 and 10 — when her vehicle collided with a Nissan Maxima and overturned. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
The mother died at the scene, while her 10-year-old daughter was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died. The three remaining children suffered injuries.
Police said the driver of the Nissan, a 28-year-old man, is the father and stepfather of the children involved. Acting Superintendent Paul Austin told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the man had been in a relationship with the woman killed in the crash.
ABC and 9News reported that two of the injured children are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the third remains in critical condition.
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Investigators have impounded both vehicles involved in the crash, though no charges have been filed at this stage. The driver of the Nissan was taken into custody and transported to Townsville, located roughly 13 hours from Doomadgee, ABC reported.
Austin said the photographs released by police are intended to support ongoing inquiries and help forensic teams understand the sequence of events. He urged anyone who may have seen the vehicles in the days or hours before the crash — or who had interactions with their occupants — to contact Doomadgee or Mount Isa Police, Crime Stoppers or Policelink.
“What occurred on Friday is nothing short of a tragedy, and our officers are dedicated to thoroughly investigating what has occurred, as well as working with the Doomadgee community,” Austin said.
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He told ABC that he could not comment on whether speed, alcohol, drugs or other factors contributed to the collision, but confirmed that forensic crash officials are assisting with the investigation. He also said domestic violence is being considered as a potential factor, though authorities are still “looking at everything.”
“As you can imagine, it’s certainly a tragic event,” Austin said. “The investigation must be methodical and comprehensive.”
He added that the Doomadgee community is in deep mourning following the catastrophic crash, noting the “extreme grief” felt by local residents. “We will continue to do whatever we can to support the community through this time,” he said.
