Second teenager charged in Maryborough triple-fatal crash

A stolen Mercedes-Benz claimed three lives in a Maryborough crash over the weekend, with police now charging two 13-year-old boys in connection with the vehicle's theft.

The luxury car was taken from a Maryborough home at 8:40pm on Sunday. Within two hours, it was involved in a collision that would prove catastrophic, claiming three lives and leaving a fourth victim fighting for recovery.

Among those killed were nurse Sheree Robertson, 52, who had been driving home following a shift at the local hospital; Kelsie Davies, 17; and pastor Michale Chandler, 29. A fourth occupant, Kaylah Behrens, 23, survived the impact but remains in critical condition in hospital.

Police allege a 13-year-old boy from Bundaberg was operating the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. He has been refused bail and charged with three counts of dangerous driving causing death. The severity of these charges reflects the gravity of the circumstances and the triple fatality outcome.

A second 13-year-old, from Maryborough, is alleged to have played a role in the theft but was not present at the collision. He faces two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one count of driving without a licence and one count of possessing dangerous drugs. He is expected to appear in court later this month to face these charges.

The compressed timeline—a high-value vehicle stolen and then involved in a fatal crash within a two-hour window—has intensified scrutiny on youth crime across Queensland. The tragedy underscores the real-world consequences when stolen vehicles are operated on public roads by unlicensed and underage drivers.

Police investigation found no evidence that any passenger fled the scene following the collision, contrary to some initial reports circulating in the community.

The three deaths have sparked widespread community outrage, particularly given the youth of those charged and the nature of the incident. Questions continue to mount about how two 13-year-old boys were able to steal a luxury vehicle and, in one case, operate it on public roads resulting in multiple fatalities. The gap between the ages of the alleged perpetrators and their alleged actions raises significant questions about supervision, intervention and prevention.

The incident has intensified pressure on the state government's handling of juvenile offences and youth crime more broadly. Community figures and emergency responders are calling for a reassessment of youth crime prevention and intervention measures.