A 71-year-old woman has died after being hit by a police car in Cairns this morning.
Police said a police vehicle collided with the Trinity Beach woman at the intersection of Lily and Sheridan Streets around 7am.
Officers rendered immediate medical assistance and the woman was transported to Cairns Hospital where she was later declared dead, police said.
The police car is towed away after the incident. (ABC Far North: Rosanne Maloney)
Lily Street between Digger and Sheridan Streets remained closed throughout the morning while declared a crime scene, but have since reopened.
Speaking to media in Brisbane, Regional Operations Deputy Commissioner John Tims said investigations were underway to determine “exactly how this incident has occurred”.
“There will be a full, thorough investigation by Ethical Standards Command with the oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission and the coroner,” he said.
At the time of the crash, there were two senior constables and one sergeant in the car, he said.
John Tims says his sympathies go out to the family and friends of the woman killed. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Deputy Commissioner Tims extended his sympathies to the woman’s family and friends.
“This is an incredible, sad loss and has changed the life of a family forever,” he said.
“This is also being felt by the officers involved and the QPS as a whole.”
In a statement posted to social media, the Queensland Police Union of Employees said it was “providing legal and support services to members involved in an operational incident in Cairns this morning”.
Shane Prior says the accident was captured on dash cam. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage to come forward.
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said it was a “terrible set of circumstances”.
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“At the time of the incident police were attempting to apprehend an offender,” he said.
“I am advised that lights on the police vehicle were activated at the time and the entire incident has been recorded on dash cam footage.”
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Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:55pm
Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:55pm
That’s it from police
Deputy Commissioner Tims has finished speaking, so we’ll wrap up our live moment here.
You can catch up on today’s developments as they happened below, or download the ABC News app.
Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:55pm
Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:55pm
Family will get answers
Deputy Commissioner Tims says the department will be able to provide answers to the deceased’s family once an investigation is complete.
“Absolutely. The investigation will conclude and we will be able to speak with the family,” he says.
“[We will] give them the information that we have.”
He says the officers will face the same system as the public and recommendations and findings around police practices will be followed.
Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:52pm
Thu 21 May 2026 at 1:52pm
‘If there’s something that needs to be changed, then it will be changed’
“We’re always reviewing what we do every day, our policies and practices,” Deputy Commissioner Tims says.
“From the investigation, there will be some recommendations and findings around our practices.”
“If there’s something that needs to be changed, then it will be changed.”
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