A man who allegedly crashed into a police van as officers responded to a reported stabbing at his Caboolture home was seen overtaking several cars before impact.
David Nichols, 26, allegedly stabbed his flatmate and took a ute from the home, north of Brisbane, ramming a minivan parked in the driveway before driving off at speed.
Witnesses say they saw the ute driving on the opposite side of the road and overtaking several motorists across a few hundred metres on the two-lane River Road before colliding with the police van on the road’s shoulder.
Police are working through CCTV and interviews to determine if the collision was a deliberate attack on officers, who were en route to the alleged stabbing yesterday afternoon.
Investigations will include whether the ute swerved towards the police vehicle on purpose, with a deliberate attempt to crash and injure, police said in a statement.
A male senior constable, 37, who was driving the police van, was taken to hospital and underwent several hours of surgery overnight.
He is in a critical but stable condition in intensive care.
A recently graduated 24-year-old constable and a 23-year-old female recruit, who was set to be sworn-in on March 24, were also injured. Both were discharged from hospital today.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll saw the "confronting" footage of the crash this morning.
"If you saw that video, I just don't know how people survived," she said. "It is absolutely extraordinary.
"There was no reducing of speed by the ... vehicle.
"It is extraordinarily confronting and how they survived is just an absolute miracle."
Mr Nichols is in a serious condition receiving medical care in hospital.
'Nowhere to go'
Superintendent John Hallam said the senior constable slowed before the crash and pulled to the left.
Traffic was relatively congested and the cars collided on the shoulder of the road, he said.
Local resident Alison Lindenberg said she saw the ute speeding past just before impact.
"It bounced back and people were just looking and wondering what the hell just happened?" Ms Lindenberg said.
Assistant Police Commissioner Brian Connors said the senior constable suffered quite significant injuries.
"But, in terms of his overall condition, hopefully he's on the improve and we'll release more details later on."
A recent arrival
Local residents said the man had recently moved to Moon Street, Caboolture, where the alleged stabbing occurred.
Property records show the house was purchased late last month.
A local resident said a man with a stab wound to his back collapsed on his stairwell on Saturday afternoon.
The resident brought the man inside, locked the front door, and provided first aid until paramedics and police arrived.
Tiana Kirby, who also lives on the street, was attending to her baby when she heard the commotion.
"I saw the victim afterwards being taken out of the house on a stretcher," Ms Kirby said.
"They've only been there three days. They just moved in," she added.
The alleged stab victim is in a stable condition in hospital.
Assistant Commissioner Connors said the alleged victim was believed to be an associate of the ute driver.
Gess Messina and her daughter Charlotte were at the pool when a friend called to tell them about what was going on in their street.
"We sort of stayed away then," Ms Messina said.
"It was pretty scary," Charlotte Messina added. "Things like this happen in our neighbourhood … I felt safer when police were there."
A tough time for police
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers was at the hospital with the officers and their families overnight.
"Behind every police officer there is extended family, and they are suffering," he said.
"To those police who attended and responded to the incident yesterday and saw the tragedy and their colleagues involved, I thank them for the work they did.
"It was absolutely outstanding in very difficult and trying circumstances."
Police Minister Mark Ryan, who lives in the area, wished the officers a "speedy recovery".
"I know that the offices here are courageous and dedicated in their service," he said.
"I commend the officers involved in the investigating team.
Police have told ABC News that officers were still "shell shocked" over the death last year of Senior Constable David Masters who worked in the Moreton district.
Senior Constable Masters, 53, from Deception Bay, was killed in an alleged hit-and-run on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane in the early hours of June 26, while he was laying road spikes to stop a stolen car.
