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3 months ago
17
Tragic new details have emerged about the horrific crash that killed a dad and his two children while their mother, who was the driver, is still fighting for life in hospital.
Sources close to the investigation believe the children's mother was reversing along Dalby-Jandowae Road at Jimbour East, north-west of Toowoomba, in the moments before the crash, the The Courier Mail reported.
The family from Western Downs, who were travelling in an older model Nissan Terrano, was struck from behind by a ute at about 10.50am on Monday.
The dad, 54, and his two children, a boy, 8, and 15-year-old girl, died at the scene.
Their mother was flown to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital by a LifeFlight team with critical chest, abdominal and arm injuries.
A father, 54, and his two children, aged 8 and 15, were killed on Monday when a ute rear-ended them. The children's mother, who was driving, is in a critical condition in hospital (pictured emergency workers at the scene of the accident)
It is now believed the mother had been reversing on the road in the moments before the crash (pictured, scene of the crash at Jimbour East north-west of Toowoomba)
The driver of the ute was treated for back injuries before being taken by ambulance to Dalby Hospital.
The family was described as being 'heavily' entrapped in their car.
Dalby Patrol Group Inspector Greg Wheeler addressed the media on Monday, saying the scene was 'horrific'.
'Whenever there is children involved it is extra traumatic,' he said.
'You know, a family basically here one minute, not the next. It's very difficult to fathom how it's actually occurred,' he said.
The police chaplain was called to the scene by 3pm to provide support for the first responders.
Emergency services worked through the day to ensure the section of the road where the crash occurred was safe.
Inspector Wheeler said the Forensic Crash Unit would be working to put together a sequence of events that might help prevent similar crashes.
'It was a bright, sunny day and the crash was on a sealed, straight road,' he said.
'All we can say is plan your trip, plan to get home safe, look after your loved ones and other road users and be sure you are well and truly aware of what you are doing at all times.'
Some drivers with knowledge of the road commented about the fatal crash on social media.
Police have pleaded with drivers to be safe, especially with school holidays fast approaching (pictured, the scene of the crash)
'That road has always been bad. Big long straights, one dip, one change of direction. Hump bumpy jumpy road surface! In the 70s it was bad. Nothing's changed I see,' one wrote.
Another replied: 'People just need to drive to conditions!'.
Queensland Ambulance Service Dalby Officer-in-Charge Alister Batterham pleaded for motorists to take care.
'With the school holidays coming up, this tragic accident is a timely reminder for us to all take responsibility, drive to the conditions and ensure we take extra care with the extra traffic we will see on our roads,' he said.
'These types of incidents are confronting for first responders and the bystanders who come across these traffic crashes and alert emergency services.'
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