Woman allegedly tried to murder man, four children in crash on Kennedy Hwy, far north QLD

A woman has been accused of attempting to murder a man and four children, including a three-month-old baby, by deliberately crashing a car on a Queensland highway.

The 32-year-old woman allegedly “deliberately travelled off the road and crashed into a sign”, flipping the Nissan X-Trail she was driving on the Kennedy Hwy near Atherton, southwest of Cairns, in the early hours of June 26, police said on Thursday.

A 43-year-old man and four children aged between three months and nine years were in the car at the time.

One of the children was in the boot of the car, police have alleged.

The victims escaped major injuries, according to police.

The group abandoned the car at the crash site and left the scene, although police are yet to determine how they travelled to their next destination.

“Police were only made aware of the abandoned vehicle hours later when a member of the public sighted it on the side of the road in daylight,” police said in a statement.

The following day, minor injuries to the baby and a two-year-old girl were reported to emergency services at a property in Evelyn, south of Atherton.

Investigations suggest the injuries to the two children may not have been a result of the crash, and were instead allegedly inflicted by the woman in an assault.

The children were taken to Cairns Hospital.

After an investigation involving child protection officers, the woman was charged with five counts of attempted murder.

Police allege the offence occurred in a domestic violence setting.

She has also been charged with two counts of assault — both alleged to be domestic violence offences — disqualified driving and driving and driving while having an unrestrained passenger.

She is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

In an emergency, call 000.