Children killed in Queensland car crash trapped in dam

The two children who died after the car they were in plunged into a dam in southeast Queensland were trapped inside the vehicle, unable to get out.

A family of six was devastated by the accident, which occurred southwest of Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

A four-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy died after the Landrover Discovery they were in crashed into the Wyaralong Dam.

A five-week-old girl, a one-year-old boy, a 33-year-old woman and the 23-year-old male driver are in stable condition at the hospital.

Inspector Douglas McDonald said the car was traveling along a straight stretch of Beaudesert Boonah Road around 2 p.m. when it turned left and crashed into a railing.

Inspector McDonald said the vehicle then skidded to the other side of the road and crashed into a second guardrail before rolling down a stone embankment.

“It landed on its roof in a semi-submerged position,” he said Monday.

Inspector McDonald said the two adults and some of the children got out of the car.

“Unfortunately, those two children (who died) were trapped in the vehicle longer than the other occupants,” he said.

“There were some difficulties opening some of the vehicle’s doors.”

Inspector McDonald said bystanders performed CPR on the children after they were removed, but they died at the scene.

“It is really traumatic for our first responders and also for the members of the public who stopped,” he said.

Inspector McDonald said investigators did not yet know what caused the accident, but alcohol is not believed to be involved.

Child seats were also found in the vehicle, and it was understood that all occupants were wearing seat belts.

Inspector McDonald said the family, from Pratten near Warwick, were traveling home from Pimpama on the Gold Coast.

“Fatigue is a major killer on our roads, and that’s certainly part of our research on this matter,” he said.

Police have spoken briefly with the driver and passenger, but formal conversations have yet to take place.

The couple are expected to undergo surgery Monday for non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone traveling in the area on Sunday afternoon and who may have dash cam footage is urged to contact police.