Horrific fatal car and bus accident in Queensland
A man has died following a car crash on the Warrego Highway west of Toowoomba on Christmas Eve.
A car and bus carrying 18 people collided on the highway at the Oakey overpass at 8.36am.
A mother and child were taken to the Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.
Three passengers from the bus were treated for minor injuries.
Reports suggest the three other passengers in the car were able to exit the vehicle unassisted.
Debris from the fatal accident has covered the Warrego Highway which has been closed in both directions as the the Forensic Crash Unit investigates.
This is the second fatal crash in as many days on Queensland roads, making a horror start to the Christmas period.
The nation's first fatal crash occurred yesterday as as horrified family members witnessed a fatal accident, which killed a 53-year-old man about 20km north of Gin Gin in Central Queensland, when two cars collided on the Bruce Highway.
A man aged 65 and a 59-year-old woman were taken to Bundaberg Hospital with chest, back and shoulder injuries.
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating says the death was "extremely unfortunate" and urged drivers to take care as they travel to Christmas celebrations and holiday destinations.
"We're really hoping that everyone can have a healthy, happy and safe Christmas and we can all make a contribution to making that happen on the roads," he said.
"We'd like to see the lowest possible road toll that's available to us right across the campaign period.
"That's no more fatalities, no more injury crashes, no more drink drivers, no more drug drivers."
Queensland police are increasing safety operations over the Christmas period, including stepping up drug testing.
Mr Keating said 273 people have already died on Queensland's roads in 2015, which is 16 more than over the same period in 2014.
Forensic police are at the crash scene near Gin Gin and the highway has been closed in both directions, with traffic being diverted.
Meanwhile, Tasmanian Police research shows motorists are most likely to have an accident on Christmas Eve.
The danger period of noon to 8pm was identified by examining the state's crash statistics from the past five years.
•The national road toll period runs from 0001 December 23, 2015 until 2359 January 3, 2016, local times.
News break – December 24
