WOODFORD, QLD – A quiet Tuesday morning turned into a scene of devastation in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after a head-on collision involving an allegedly stolen vehicle claimed the life of a 60-year-old woman.

The fatal crash occurred at approximately 6:10 am on May 5, 2026, on Archer Street near Victoria Lane, along a busy stretch of the D’Aguilar Highway.

According to Queensland Police, a white Isuzu D-MAX utility—which had been reported stolen from a residence in Morayfield earlier that morning at 3:45 am—was traveling through Woodford when it collided head-on with an orange Toyota Corolla.

The impact was catastrophic. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, the driver of the Toyota, a woman from Caboolture South, sustained critical injuries and was declared deceased at the scene.

Following the collision, the driver of the stolen Isuzu allegedly fled the scene on foot, sparking an immediate search by local authorities. The investigation led officers to a nearby educational facility, which was placed into a temporary lockdown as a precautionary measure while police cleared the grounds.

A 31-year-old man was located hiding in the toilet block of the school approximately two hours later. He was taken into custody with minor injuries and is currently assisting the Caboolture Criminal Investigation Branch with their enquiries.

The D’Aguilar Highway remained closed in both directions for several hours as Forensic Crash Unit investigators processed the scene. Local residents and witnesses described a scene of "scattered debris and heartbreak," with flowers already being placed near the site by mid-morning.

Detective Acting Inspector Lisa Elkins commented on the tragedy, stating: "It is a very tragic set of circumstances to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We have witness accounts to suggest the vehicle was being driven dangerously prior to the crash."

Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the white Isuzu D-MAX in the Morayfield or Woodford areas between 3:45 am and 6:15 am, or anyone with relevant dash cam footage, to come forward.