Horror crash that killed mum and four kids investigated as murder-suicide

Police have brought in the homicide squad to investigate the possibility of murder-suicide in the horrific head-on crash which killed a Queensland mum and her four kids.

Charmaine Harris McLeod and her children died as she attempted to overtake a truck on the Bunya Highway, near Kumbia, in Queensland’s South Burnett Region just before 7.30pm on Monday.

Police said the car she was driving hit an oncoming truck and both vehicles became engulfed in flames. Aaleyn, 6, Matilda, 5, Wyatt, 4, and Zaidok, 2, all died with their mum.

Asked on Friday why they had not been added to the national toll, Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said there were particular rules that determined a traffic crash.

"But there are very different rules, and that's why we now have homicide detectives working on this case, where there is a potential that there is an intention for someone to die," he said.

"This will take some time."

Confirmation that the crash is being investigated as a possible homicide comes after reports there were no skid marks left at the scene.

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Road Policing Command Superintendent Dave Johnson said it’s not known why Ms McLeod was driving at that time of the night, and when asked if the crash might have been intentional, he said: “There is no indication at this stage, other than a thorough investigation needs to be completed to understand what’s occurred”.

With AAP

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