Three people have died and the survivors are "lucky to be alive" after a fiery five-vehicle crash along a highway on Queensland's Fraser Coast.
Two semi-trailers, a dual cab ute, a hatchback and a caravan trailer were all involved in the collision due to an apparent failure to give away at Maryborough West on Friday evening.
Emergency crews were called to the Bruce Highway and Walker Street intersection around 10pm, with two vehicles on fire.
Three people died at the scene and three others received minor injuries, Queensland Police said in a statement on Saturday.
Acting Superintendent Paul Algie said initial investigations suggested a car, driven by a 53-year-old Maryborough man, went out into oncoming traffic about 9.50pm from the Walker Street intersection at Maryborough West.
The hatchback was hit by a truck which collided with another truck, he told reporters on Saturday.
A car turning right at the intersection was then hit by the semi-trailer.
A car carrying a caravan behind the truck in the northbound lane was also hit by the trailer.
"At this point all we are looking at is a failure to give way," Supt Algie said on Saturday.
"The survivors are lucky to be alive."
Flammable material and lithium batteries in at least one of the vehicles led to explosions heard for kilometres from the crash site.
The 53-year-old driver of the hatchback along with two male truck drivers died at the scene.
A 22-year-old woman and 27-year-old man travelling in the ute from the Northern Territory were also injured.
A 50-year-old man from Townsville in the caravan escaped with minor injuries.
Emergency crews remain on site investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, with the Forensic Crash Unit to lead the Investigation.
The highway is expected to remain closed for some time, with diversions in place through Torbanlea.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has any dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.
A 21-year-old man also died after he was struck by a car on the Gold Coast about 11.10pm on Friday.
The pedestrian was hit by a Hyundai Veloster on Smith Street at Southport and died at the scene, police said.
