A driver has allegedly abandoned three passengers — including an 11-month-old baby — after crashing a car into a road train on the Gore Highway near Toowoomba on Wednesday evening. Emergency services were called to the scene at Southbrook, roughly two hours west of Brisbane, at approximately 8.30pm following reports of a serious collision.

How the Crash Unfolded

A Holden Commodore sedan was attempting to overtake a road train — a large freight vehicle hauling multiple trailers — while navigating a bend in the highway. An oncoming semi-trailer then forced the Commodore's driver to move back into the original lane, but the vehicle struck the front of the road train before sideswiping one of its trailers. The Holden left the road and came to rest beside the highway.

Police allege the male driver then fled on foot into surrounding farmland, leaving his passengers behind without assistance. A truck-related crash of this nature highlights the serious dangers posed by heavy-vehicle incidents on regional Queensland roads.

Passengers Treated at Scene, Freight Vehicles Damaged

Paramedics assessed and treated the three people left inside the Holden at the scene. The passengers were identified as an 18-year-old man from Dirranbandi, a 19-year-old woman from Talwood, and an 11-month-old baby. All three sustained minor injuries.

Neither the 45-year-old driver of the road train, from Helensvale, nor the 53-year-old driver of the oncoming semi-trailer, from Marsden, suffered physical injuries. However, the road train sustained significant damage after one of its trailers overturned during the collision. Both the semi-trailer and the Holden Commodore received moderate damage.

The Gore Highway was closed for five hours while emergency crews cleared the scene and made the road safe for traffic.

Driver Still at Large, Police Appeal for Information

As of Thursday, the driver of the Holden Commodore remains at large. Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have captured relevant dashcam footage to come forward and contact authorities.

The incident is among a number of serious road events to draw attention across Australia in recent times. Anyone with information about the driver's whereabouts or the circumstances of the crash is urged to contact Queensland Police.