A grandfather demonstrated extraordinary selflessness in his final moments, using his last breath to direct rescuers toward his critically injured two-year-old granddaughter trapped in the wreckage of a devastating triple-fatal crash. The tragic collision occurred on the Waterford-Tamborine Road at Yarrabilba, south of Brisbane, shortly after 4:30 PM on Saturday, claiming three lives and leaving multiple others with serious injuries.
Horrific Scene Unfolds on Queensland Road
A white Volkswagen station wagon carrying a family collided head-on with a white Toyota HiLux in a catastrophic impact that overturned both vehicles and sparked an immediate inferno. The 65-year-old male driver of the station wagon, a 33-year-old woman passenger in the same vehicle, and the 18-year-old driver of the HiLux all died at the scene despite frantic rescue efforts.
Injured passengers from the station wagon included a 36-year-old man, a 65-year-old woman, and the two-year-old girl who was the granddaughter of the deceased driver. The Daily Mail reports that two of the other adult passengers are understood to be the young girl's parents, making this a multi-generational family tragedy.
Heroic Bystanders Respond to Desperate Plea
Muhammad Gohar, his wife Rabia Munir, and their sons Muhammad Aihab and Muhammad Salal were at their nearby home when they heard the explosive crash and rushed to assist. What they encountered was a scene of utter devastation with trapped victims and spreading flames.
The dying grandfather managed to tap on his window to get their attention, urgently communicating that there was a baby in the car and pleading with them to save her first before losing consciousness and succumbing to his injuries. "We pulled the baby out, she was covered in blood," Aihab told the Courier Mail, describing how he used a hammer to break the window and extract the child.
"It happened so fast – I kept asking other people what happened to the guy in the other car. By the time we were helping the other people, that car went up in flames," Aihab added. Ms. Munir attempted to combat the spreading fire with two small extinguishers, but they proved insufficient against the growing inferno.
Trauma for Rescuers and Ongoing Investigations
Mr. Gohar, who cradled the injured girl while awaiting emergency services, described the profound psychological impact of witnessing such tragedy. "You can't imagine … someone is in front of you dying," he said, adding that he hadn't been able to sleep since the incident.
The Forensic Crash Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Police have appealed to anyone traveling in the area around the time of the crash who might have relevant dashcam footage or information to contact Policelink on 131 444.
Local Concerns About Dangerous Road Conditions
Residents living near the crash site expressed deep concerns about the safety of Waterford-Tamborine Road, with many suggesting this tragedy was predictable given the road's history. The family who assisted at the scene reported witnessing at least eight crashes in three years along the same downhill section, where many drivers reportedly exceed the 80km/h speed limit.
Horrific CCTV footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows the white Toyota HiLux speeding southbound before veering into the path of the family's Volkswagen station wagon, resulting in the fatal head-on collision. Locals have described numerous safety issues with the roadway.
"I live on [that] road and can share a whole swag of horror stories," one resident commented online. "We need to go back to teaching our kids that driving is a privilege and should be treated with respect and care. Another fatality just breaks my heart."
Another concerned local stated: "So sad. [The] road needs a major upgrade to accommodate the volume of traffic and also provide overtaking opportunity for people which will eliminate half of the issues on this road." Additional reports emerged of a white utility vehicle seen "swerving all over the road," "yelling and screaming" at other drivers, and "running a red light at speed" before turning onto Waterford-Tamborine Road.
Medical Updates on Survivors
The injured 65-year-old woman and 36-year-old man were transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital with critical injuries following the collision. Medical staff report the woman remains in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit, while the man has improved to stable condition.
The two-year-old girl, whose grandfather sacrificed his final moments to ensure her rescue, is currently in stable condition at Queensland Children's Hospital. Police closed the stretch of road between Camp Cable Road and Dollarbird Drive for several hours as first responders used hydraulic cutting equipment to free trapped passengers and investigators examined the scene.
This tragic incident has highlighted both the extraordinary heroism of ordinary citizens responding to emergencies and the ongoing concerns about road safety infrastructure in growing communities. The grandfather's final selfless act to prioritize his granddaughter's rescue amidst his own mortal injuries stands as a poignant testament to familial love in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
