Two men dead and a child hospitalised following horror head-on collision on the Bruce Highway

Two men have died and a child is in hospital after a head-on collision on the Bruce Highway.

Around 8am a white Hyundai hatchback was travelling southbound on the Bruce Highway near Talia Lane and a white Volkswagen van was travelling northbound when they collided.

‘The driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old Kallangur man sustained critical injuries and died at the scene,’ a spokesperson for Queensland Police said. 

‘The driver of the Volkswagen, a 57-year-old Buddina man sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.

‘The passenger of the Volkswagen, an 11-year-old Buddina boy, suffered injuries and was transported by air to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.’

Inspector Paul Algie told the ABC police believed the Hyundai had veered onto the wrong side of the road.

It then was involved in a head-on collision with the Volkswagen travelling north in an overtaking lane. 

It is the second fatal crash on Queensland’s roads in 2025, after a 55-year-old man was killed when his car left the road 45 minutes west of Bundaberg on January 1. 

In 2024, Queenslanders suffered the worst year for road deaths in 15 years, with 302 lives lost. 

Inspector Algie said that the three deaths in as many days in 2025 was a shocking start to the year. 

‘This is a number we did not want to see, it is a very, very concerning statistic,’ he said.

‘These are three people that will not be around the table at home, with their loved ones, because they just got into their cars, drove on the highway and met their fate in a horrific set of circumstances.’

The crash sparked holiday traffic chaos after the Bruce Highway was closed in both directions for five hours. 

It opened shortly before 3pm. 

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have relevant dashcam vision, to come forward.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.