A professional carer has been accused of deliberately crashing a car into a tree, killing his two elderly passengers.
The 61-year-old man is under police guard in hospital after the fatal crash at Brooloo, between Kenilworth and Imbil, sparked a homicide investigation.
Police said the man was driving a sedan that hit a tree about 2pm on Monday, killing an 83-year-old Kandanga man and an 85-year-old Gympie woman.
The elderly passengers were related to each other and the man was their carer, police said.
“We now believe that crash was not an accident but a deliberate act,” Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip told reporters on Tuesday.
“The two victims were related and their relationship with the driver was … professional – he was employed in a caring role.”
Officers responding to reports of a single-vehicle crash discovered the elderly passengers in the severely damaged Suzuki.
“It doesn’t appear to be alcohol-related,” Supt Inskip said.
The elderly man – who was in the front passenger seat – and the woman sitting in the back died at the scene.
The driver was airlifted to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with serious injuries, police said.
He has been charged with two counts of manslaughter.
He was due to appear via a bedside hearing in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Police have appealed for anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24 hours per day. Quote this reference number: QP2500909036.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online.
