Police hunt driver who caused fatal crash after driving wrong way down highway in Queensland

An elderly man has died and a woman has been left fighting for life after a shocking crash in Queensland saw police hunting for a driver who allegedly fled the scene.

Police said a blue SUV was driving south on the New England Hwy in Glen Aplin, near Stanthorpe, when the driver spotted a car coming towards them driving on the incorrect side of the road about 1.50pm on Saturday.

The driver of the SUV took “evasive action” to avoid a collision with a car, police said. The cars did not collide, however, the SUV struck a water draining culvert on the side of the road, rolling several times before hitting a power pole.

The driver of the other car travelling on the wrong side of the road, which caused the incident, failed to stop and allegedly fled the scene.

One of the passengers in the SUV, a 92-year-old Wallangarra man, was declared deceased at the scene.

The other passenger, an 85-year-old woman also from Wallangarra, was rushed to Stanthorpe Hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital.

The 20-year-old women driving the SUV received minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

On Sunday afternoon police said the second car, believed to be a light-coloured sedan involved int he crash, had been found.

The 84-year-old owner of the car is now assisting police with their enquires, they said.

“Police are urgently seeking information from anyone who may have seen a vehicle driving erratically in the area or who may have dashcam footage from the New England Highway around the time of the crash.”

Anyone with information or relevant footage is urged to contact police.