Multi-vehicle crash on Queensland highway kills woman and baby, injures others
Consensus Summary
A multi-vehicle crash on the Captain Cook Highway at Oak Beach, south of Port Douglas, killed a 25-year-old Mossman woman and her infant passenger on May 23, 2026, before 4pm. The collision involved a white Mitsubishi Triton utility striking a red Mazda MX-5, which then hit a white MG3 hatchback. A 22-year-old woman in the MG3 was critically injured and airlifted to Cairns Hospital, while the 62-year-old driver of the Triton suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Two passengers in the Mazda escaped harm. Police closed the highway between Mossman and Wangetti and urged witnesses with dashcam footage to come forward. Both sources agree on the sequence of events, vehicle types, and key injuries, though publication timestamps differ slightly.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 25-year-old Mossman woman and her infant passenger died at the scene of the crash on the Captain Cook Highway at Oak Beach, south of Port Douglas, on 2026-05-23 before 4pm.
- A 22-year-old woman was flown to Cairns Hospital with life-threatening injuries (pelvic and abdominal injuries).
- A 62-year-old Port Douglas man (driver of the white Mitsubishi Triton utility) was taken to Cairns Hospital with non-life-threatening chest and back injuries.
- The crash involved a white Mitsubishi Triton utility striking a red Mazda MX-5 before colliding with a white MG3 hatchback.
- Police are appealing for anyone with relevant information or dashcam footage to come forward.
- The Captain Cook Highway was closed between Mossman and Wangetti after the crash.
- A 54-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman (passengers in the Mazda MX-5) escaped physical injury.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The driver of the MG3 was a 25-year-old Mossman woman, and her infant passenger died at the scene.
- The crash occurred just south of the intersection with Reynolds Road.
- The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) confirmed the baby and 25-year-old woman were assessed in life-threatening condition before dying at the scene.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the crash happened on 2026-05-22T22:20:40, but NEWSCOMAU reports it as 2026-05-23T00:25:13, though both describe the event as occurring on Friday before 4pm.
Source Articles
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Police said initial investigations indicated a white Mitsubishi Triton ute struck a red Mazda MX-5 before colliding with a white MG3 hatchback.