What’s Happening?
A man in his 40s was airlifted to hospital following a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway, north of Calliope, on Sunday morning, 18 October 2026.
The Bundaberg-based LifeFlight helicopter was tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland at 7.14am and landed on the road at West Stowe.
The man suffered face and leg injuries and was taken to hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition.
Why It Matters
The crash required assistance from multiple emergency services, including Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Fire Department.
Firefighters freed a driver trapped inside one of the trucks, while specialist medical personnel provided treatment at the scene.
Local Impact
The incident occurred along the Bruce Highway at West Stowe, north of Calliope, in Central Queensland.
The response involved a Bundaberg-based aeromedical crew operating outside the Wide Bay-Burnett region, where the helicopter is based.
Key Points
- Specialist medical team: A LifeFlight critical care doctor and QAS flight paramedic assisted local ambulance crews with the patient’s injuries.
- Air transfer: The helicopter flew the patient to Rockhampton Airport.
- Final hospital transfer: QAS paramedics then transported him by road to Rockhampton Hospital.
Zoom In
The rescue involved both emergency extraction and medical care.
Queensland Fire Department firefighters worked to release the trapped driver. Meanwhile, ambulance and aeromedical personnel coordinated his treatment and transfer.
The operation brought together emergency responders from different services to assist the injured man.
Zoom Out
The Bundaberg-based LifeFlight helicopter and crew provide aeromedical services across the Wide Bay-Burnett region and beyond.
The West Stowe incident is an example of the crew responding to an emergency outside its home region.
What To Look For Next?
LifeFlight did not provide an update on the man’s condition after his transfer to Rockhampton Hospital.
The statement also did not specify what caused the collision.
