Horror high-speed crash halts peak-hour traffic on the Gold Coast
A HORRIFIC high-speed crash has halted peak-hour traffic on the Pacific Motorway at Burleigh Heads.
It’s understood a motorcyclist collided with two cars in the southbound lanes near Exit 87 around 5.20pm.
The rider has reportedly suffered horrific injuries, with reports one of his legs may have been severed in the collision. His exact age and condition are not yet known.
It’s understood the rider was found by emergency services, unresponsive on the side of the motorway.
According to witnesses, he had shorts and thongs on and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
It’s understood paramedics performed CPR on the man at the scene before rushing him to hospital.
It is not known if the man was breathing when he was transported.
There are reports the rider was travelling down the emergency lane at speeds in excess of the posted 100km/h limit.
“[he] definitely has a severed leg,” one passing driver wrote on Facebook. “I drove past his foot. He flew past me in the breakdown lane doing well over 100 in thick traffic.”
Motorists reported the man passing them on a Harley Davidson without a helmet in the southbound lanes of the Logan Motorway and then again on the M1 near Pimpama shortly before the crash at Burleigh Heads.
“This bloke passed us at Pimpama on the M1 this afternoon,” one motorist said. “He was hooking along. I can’t believe he wasn’t wearing a helmet.”
“We drove by when someone just started chest compressions,” said another. “The Harley went a long way past the point of impact.”
The Bermuda Street onramp to the M1 has been closed and is expected to remain so for several hours.
Police are warning motorists to expect significant delays and are urging drivers to seek alternate routes.
Drivers approaching the M1 from Bermuda Street are being stopped and told to turn around.
It’s understood the Forensic Crash Unit has been called to the scene.
Both the Queensland Police and Queensland Ambulance Service have tweeted about the incident, warning of delays and urging motorists to avoid the area.
The occupants of the two cars involved in the collision have been treated at the scene for shock.
No further information was available at the time of writing.
Serious traffic crash Southbound Pacific Motorway near Bermuda St Exit #BurleighHeads. Expect significant delays, avoid the area if possible
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) August 2, 2017
Traffic: Serious crash on M1. Southbound on ramp shut at Bermuda St. Avoid area, diversions in place will be shut for a no. of hours
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 2, 2017
