A 14-year-old boy was driving a stolen vehicle that crashed, killing four other teenagers, in suburban Townsville early on Sunday.
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Police say they were not pursuing the Kia Sorrento sedan which was on the wrong side of the road when it clipped a roundabout, rolled and struck a light pole.
Two girls and two boys, believed to be aged between 14 and 18, died at the scene on the corner of Duckworth Street and Bayswater Road at Garbutt around 4.30am.
"It looks like the vehicle has clipped a roundabout on Duckworth St causing it to roll," Superintendent Assistant District Officer Glen Pointing told reporters.
"At no stage did the police pursue that vehicle or try to intercept that vehicle."
The driver of the vehicle was taken to Townsville University Hospital in a stable condition.
He is yet to be interviewed by police.
"We will interact with the families and get to the bottom of how this tragic event occurred," Mr Pointing said.
There were reports that two stolen cars were being driven dangerously in the area but they had not established if they had been travelling together when the accident occurred, he said.
The accident was "tragic beyond words", says Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
"This is horrific," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.
"Four young people have lost their lives and there are four families that will be grieving.
"It is tragic beyond words."
Australian Associated Press