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Three children among five people killed in Australian car fire

Five members of the same family have died in a car fire in Australia. It happened at an area know...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.04 19 Feb 2020


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Three children among five peop...

Three children among five people killed in Australian car fire

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.04 19 Feb 2020


Share this article


Five members of the same family have died in a car fire in Australia.

It happened at an area known as Camp Hill in the city of Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

Police were alerted just before 8.30am (local time) to a vehicle on fire.

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Three children - aged six, four and three - were found dead inside.

A 31-year-old woman, who was also in the car, suffered significant burns and was taken to a local hospital in a critical condition.

She subsequently died from her injuries.

A 42-year-old man was also declared dead at the scene after responding emergency crews attempted to revive him.

Preliminary investigations indicate the woman was driving the car and the man was in the front passenger seat prior to the incident.

A man who helped rescue the woman from the car sustained burns and was transported to hospital for treatment.

A crime scene has been declared as investigations continue.

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson, of Queensland State Police, said: "It's a horrific scene."

"It is too early for me to say how the actual incident occurred, that would certainly be a critical part of the investigation."

"But I can say that the vehicle was fully involved in fire upon the emergency services arriving," he said.

Neighbour Murray Campbell told the Brisbane Times he heard several explosions from his backyard and ran to the front.

He said he alerted the emergency services, adding: "The rest is just horrible".

Mr Campbell said the car was stationary, but then rolled across the street ablaze.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the news was "devastating".

He tweeted: "My heart goes out to the families and community going through this tragic time and the emergency responders confronting what would be a shattering scene."

The family involved have been named by broadcaster ABC as Rowan Baxter - a former member of the New Zealand Warriors rugby team - his wife Hannah Baxter and their three children.

Additional reporting: IRN


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