Two Truck Drivers Die in Head-On Collision on D’Aguilar Highway in South Burnett Region
A devastating head-on crash between a fuel tanker and a heavy rigid transport truck on the D’Aguilar Highway in the South Burnett region has claimed the lives of two men.
The fatal accident occurred at around 5:45am on Thursday, with emergency services subsequently called to the scene.
The drivers of both vehicles, aged in their 50s and 30s respectively, sustained critical injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation Underway
The Toowoomba Forensic Crash Unit has launched an investigation into the incident and is appealing for anyone with information or relevant dash cam footage to come forward.
A 1km exclusion zone boundary was initially put in place, covering parts of the D’Aguilar Highway, Nukku Road, and Nukku Boundary Road, but was lifted just before 4pm on Thursday.
The Queensland Fire Department responded to the incident, with 11 crews, including the rural fire brigade, battling the blaze for over two hours.
Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Road Safety Concerns
The tragic incident has highlighted concerns over road safety, particularly in the wake of Road Safety Week.
According to RACQ data, 302 fatalities were recorded on Queensland roads in 2024, including 64 in the Southern Region.
As of August 17, 187 lives have been lost on Queensland roads this year.
The state electorate of Nanango, where the crash occurred, has been identified as having the highest number of road trauma between 2019 and 2023, with 866 people hospitalised and 66 killed during that period.
Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon has urged road users to prioritise safety, stressing the importance of obeying road rules to ensure everyone’s safety on the roads.