14-year-old driver allegedly causes multi-vehicle crash: 2 critical, 8 injured

A severe four-car collision reportedly involving an unlicensed 14-year-old driver in Australia has left two people critically injured and eight others hurt.

On Thursday (April 30) around 6:10pm local time, the teenager was operating an unregistered and uninsured Mitsubishi Lancer without a driver’s license when he lost control, according to Queensland Police in a news release.

The incident occurred on Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland, north of Brisbane.

According to authorities, the youth, who had three other teens as passengers, veered into the southbound lane and collided with a Suzuki Swift.

Shortly thereafter, the Lancer crashed head-on into a Volkswagen Polo, which was then struck from behind by a Hyundai Kona.

When emergency personnel arrived, they had to extract several people trapped in their vehicles.

Inspector Paul Algie from Queensland Police remarked that excessive speed was highly likely a factor in the accident, and the young driver’s lack of experience may have also played a role, as reported by the Australian Associated Press.

Authorities stated that all four teenagers in the Lancer sustained injuries. A 16-year-old girl suffered serious injuries and was flown to the hospital.

The 14-year-old driver, along with another 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were transported to the hospital and are in stable condition.

The 18-year-old woman operating the Suzuki was gravely injured and airlifted to the hospital, while her 58-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital as a precautionary step.

The Hyundai Kona's driver, a 40-year-old man, along with his passengers, a 40-year-old woman and a 2-year-old boy, were all taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons, as was the 19-year-old male driver of the Polo.

In Queensland, drivers must be at least 17 years old to be eligible for a provisional driver's license.

The Lancer, according to police, was owned by a grandparent and was at one point registered to the mother of one of the victims.

"Naturally, they are both deeply affected by what has happened, and with their daughter and granddaughter seriously injured," Algie conveyed to the AAP. "We will approach them at an appropriate time to understand the circumstances under which the vehicle was taken yesterday afternoon."

They request that anyone who can aid the investigation reference the number QP2600831325 or offer information anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

The crash occurred precisely three years after another incident where a teenager in a stolen vehicle caused the deaths of three people on the identical road.

Algie indicated that the community is likely reminded of that past tragedy.

"I'm certain that this incident will bring back the distressing and terrible