A family of four struck down by an out-of-control car in Manly West on Christmas Day stood no chance, police have said.
Traumatised police officers who reached the incident within minutes have said it was “one of the most traumatic scenes” they have attended.
An 18-year-old girl died at the scene and her 56-year-old mother died in hospital after an out-of-control BMW sedan travelling inbound on Manly Rd near Lockwood Cres drove over the median strip, hit a tree and smashed into their car head-on.
The incident happened at 11.10am as the family were on their way to Christmas lunch with relatives in Birkdale.
Police said the family sedan was packed with presents they were never able to exchange.
Relatives expecting the family at lunch were told the news when senior sergeant Lukia Serafim answered one of the mobile phones at the scene.
Snr Sgt Serafim and her team were the first of the emergency services to arrive and said it was a “challenging and horrific scene”
“Numerous members of the public [assisted] in amazing ways, providing water to the injured, providing shelter and also assisting with CPR under the direction of a pregnant doctor that had turned up on the scene,” she said.
“As a wife and parent outside of being a police officer it was very, very difficult when we were doing CPR on the deceased,”
“It does affect police in a way that we do take it home and I really reach out to the father and offer our condolences.”
Forensic Crash Unit senior sergeant Nicole Fox said those attending the incident had been greatly affected by what they saw.
Snr Sgt Fox said it would not have been possible for the family to avoid the crash.
“Unfortunately just looking at the photos from this incident, with the foliage and the trees from the centre median, it would have provided a driver in any circumstance, nil to no chance to take evasive action,” she said.
The father and a 23-year-old daughter remain in hospital and are expected to make a full recovery.
The 46-year-old driver of the other vehicle will have his charges upgraded to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
He also remains in a stable condition in hospital and is expected to recover
It is understood police will oppose bail at a bedside Magistrates hearing at the Princess Alexandra Hospital today.
Police are continuing their appeal for anyone who was travelling along Manly Rd around the time of the incident and who may have seen either of the two vehicles, a black 2004 BMW 325i sedan and a grey 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan, to contact police.
Investigators are also asking for anyone with dash cam footage who was driving on Manly Rd at the time to also contact police.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.
The 18-year-old woman victim sitting in the back seat of the family sedan when the out-of-control BMW crashed through the median strip on Manly Rd at Manly West and hit her car head-on at high speed.
The BMW knocked down a tree as it crossed on to the wrong side of the busy road and crashed into the silver sedan.
First responders performed CPR and tried to revive the woman but she was declared dead at the scene.
The dramatic crash occurred in front of families celebrating Christmas and prompted police to close Manly Rd for several hours during the afternoon.
Witnesses said police officers appeared shaken by the horrific scene.
A doctor stopped to render medical assistance to those involved, and police have since asked her to contact them.
So far this year 243 people have lost their lives on the state’s roads.
More than 3100 Queenslanders have been hospitalised as a result of a serious road accident so far in 2017 – that is about 100 more people than at the same time last year.
With Boxing Day expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the year, police are warning motorists to be careful on the road.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said police are targeting high-risk road user behaviour including speeding, drinking and drug driving, distracted driving, fatigue and failing to wear a seatbelt.
Mr Keating said that fatigue caused almost 10 per cent of fatalities in Queensland this year.