1 month ago
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A truck driver who crashed into four cars may have suffered a medical episode, emergency services said.
One of the cars, with a mother and two young girls inside, was pinned to a construction site after being rear-ended.
The girls – Ineza, 3, and one-year-old Itahe – were travelling with their mother, identified only as Denyse, when a truck crashed into their vehicle about 11.45am on Thursday on Banya Avenue in Banya, south-west of Caloundra.
The three-year-old suffered critical head and chest injuries and was flown by helicopter to Queensland Children’s Hospital. Her younger sister was taken in a critical condition to Sunshine Coast University Hospital before also being flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The girls were unconscious when they were removed from the car, Queensland Ambulance Services spokesman Nick Haug said.
Denyse, who is in her 30s, was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition with head and chest injuries but was discharged on Friday.
Denyse documented her life with her daughters and partner on Facebook.Credit: Facebook
Her daughters were still fighting for their lives in hospital on Friday.
“The last update I had was no change from last night,” Acting Inspector Matthew Robertson said. “They were in a critical condition in hospital, were being seen by the doctors, and have had no change.”
New CCTV shows the moment the truck, which was travelling at speed, crashed into the first of four cars before continuing down the road.
It then crashed into three more vehicles stopped at an intersection, the young family’s car among them.
Ineza, 3, and one-year-old Itahe remain in hospital.Credit: Facebook
Paramedics assessed seven people in total, including the truck driver, with the remaining four taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
A man in another car hit by the truck told Nine News he and some tradespeople from the construction site pulled the two girls from the car.
“The people who witnessed that accident immediately jumped in to assist, and assist all the people involved in it. Nobody shied away from getting in, helping, providing assistance,” Robertson said.
Haug said the truck’s driver could not immediately recall the incident, and Robertson confirmed officers were investigating the possibility they had experienced a medical episode.
The crash scene at the intersection of Banya Avenue and Bruny Street on Thursday.Credit: Nine
He said police would look at factors such as the visibility of the traffic lights, as well as the road and weather conditions. He also confirmed no stolen vehicles were involved.
“It was just people going about their normal business.”
The acting inspector said it was a reminder to motorists and members of the community to be situationally aware on the roads and to pay attention to road-safety messaging.
“Take heed to the dangers of being on the road and around the road. And take care so we can prevent any further injuries on our road in 2026,” Robertson said.
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
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