Three Hospitalized After Multi-Vehicle Crash on Bruce Highway

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a serious multi-vehicle crash occurred on the Bruce Highway, just south of Miriam Vale, Queensland. The incident involved five trucks and resulted in three drivers being hospitalized, with one in critical condition.

The collision took place around 2:00 a.m., prompting a significant response from emergency services. Authorities confirmed that a 98-kilometer stretch of the highway is currently closed in both directions as they work to clear the scene.

A diversion has been established for motorists, routing traffic from Gin Gin via Mulgrave Street into Bundaberg Gin Gin Road, Rosedale Road, Lowmead Road, Tableland Road, and Fingerboard Road back to Miriam Vale. However, this detour is not suitable for heavy vehicles.

Leanne Dyer, a member of a local Facebook group, noted that truck drivers might consider using the Burnett Highway to circumvent the closure, even though this would involve a longer detour.

Reports indicate that fog and a hazard reduction burn may have contributed to decreased visibility, which played a role in the crash. Additionally, two ambulances responding to the scene of the crash were also involved in a subsequent collision.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that minor injuries were sustained by the paramedics, yet they continued to assist at the scene and later sought medical assessment.

Among those injured, a man in his 20s sustained significant head and leg injuries and was transported to Gladstone Hospital. A second man in his 50s was reported to have life-threatening head, hip, and leg injuries, and another man in his 20s suffered head, chest, and leg injuries and was taken to Bundaberg Hospital.

The Queensland Fire Department responded to the incident, utilizing hydraulic tools to free three individuals who were trapped within their vehicles. Eyewitness Corey Hindley, a tow-truck driver, reported that he narrowly avoided the crash, which was complicated by limited visibility.

According to Hindley, the ambulances collided with a reversing truck that was attempting to exit the roadway, indicating the chaos of the situation as multiple vehicles were involved.

Emergency response leaders emphasized the need for caution while driving, particularly in adverse conditions, reminding motorists to drive according to the existing road conditions.