Teen charged after quadruple fatality as seven die on Queensland roads
A teenage boy has been charged after a crash that killed four others in Townsville on Sunday, on a weekend which saw seven lives lost on Queensland roads.
It comes after a total of 91 people lost their lives on the state's roads during the first five months of the year, seven more than the same period last year, despite less traffic on the roads due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Police believe the stolen car was travelling on the wrong side of Duckworth Street in Garbutt, in Townsville's west, when it clipped a roundabout and rolled.
Three girls and a boy, believed to be aged between 14 and 18, died at the scene. The 14-year-old driver was taken to hospital with minor injures.
He has now been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and burglary, along with one count of possessing dangerous drugs.
Superintendent Glen Pointing described the crash as a "very tragic scene".
"It is a tragedy for the children involved, it is a tragedy for their families, and it is also confronting to first responders, whether they be police, fire, ambulance."
The boy is due to appear in Townsville Children's Court this month.
Two men also died after a multi-vehicle crash in Logan on Sunday, while a newborn baby died on Saturday just hours after its pregnant mother was airlifted to a central Queensland hospital to give birth.
One man, 54, was declared dead at the scene of the collision, at the corner of Fletcher and Logan River roads in Bethania, about 3.30pm on Sunday.
A 37-year-old died shortly after, with two others taken to Logan Hospital in stable conditions.
Just 24 hours earlier, police were called to a single-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at Saint Lawrence, south of Mackay, after a car hit a guard rail.
One of the occupants, a pregnant woman, was airlifted to Rockhampton hospital about 7pm to gtive birth to the child - who passed away a few hours later.
Police are also seeking witnesses to a single-vehicle crash north of Brisbane on Monday morning.
A silver Mitsubishi Lancer was seen travelling south at high speed along the Bruce Highway before crashing near the on-ramp of Dohles Rocks Road at Griffin.
The three occupants of the vehicle, a woman and two men, were taken to hospital in serious conditions. Southbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours.
Forensic crash investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 13 14 44 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- with Jocelyn Garcia