Queensland

UPDATED

Police expect more charges to be laid against alleged Kowanyama driver

Police reinforcements have flown into Kowanyama, as the community comes to terms with the tragic incident which left one dead and dozens injured.

Acting Inspector Michael Gooiker said it is "highly likely a number of more charges" will be laid against the alleged offender. 

A man has been charged with murder after a woman died and 14 others were hospitalised when a car ploughed into a funeral ...
A man has been charged with murder after a woman died and 14 others were hospitalised when a car ploughed into a funeral in the state's far north on Friday. Photo: RFDS

The 55-year-old Kowanyama man was expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with murder, after allegedly driving a car into a crowded house where a funeral viewing was being held about 10.30am on Friday.

The homicide investigation unit, forensic officers, uniform police and the Cape inspector have arrived in the area to oversee the response.

"It's a complex scene, with a number of persons involved in a very remote area of the state," said Acting Inspector Gooiker.

"(This) creates difficulties for all emergency services and government agencies, but they've all banded together to respond to this matter."

Advertisement

Acting Inspector Gooiker said the scene was "similar to Ravenshoe".

Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Michael Yam said the community would stay strong.

"The community is holding up pretty good considering what's happened," Mr Yam said.

"The support has been pretty good especially from police, we've had people flying in to help us.

"People will pull together, you don't expect these things to happen, but you've got to adapt.

"We will rebuild our community to as we were before and try to educate people about what happened."

Fourteen people remain in hospital with 15 others having been treated at the scene and a 48-year-old woman losing her life.

Acting Inspector Gooiker said police believed there had been "some sort of dispute" at the funeral in the lead-up to the incident at Kowanyama, near the edge of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Police also confirmed the accused driver was related to people at the funeral.

Queensland Ambulance Service operations coordinator Neil Noble said the Royal Flying Doctor Service was called in to help treat and move patients in the remote community.

Mr Noble said the patients' injuries ranged in severity.

"As would be expected with a structural collapse we have patients with multiple fractures and abrasions and possibly internal injuries as well," he said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said four doctors and 10 nurses were able to get to the scene of what she described as a "very tragic incident".

Stay informed. Like the Brisbane Times Facebook page.