SHE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO ESCAPE..! – MAN CHARGED AFTER AN ALLEGEDLY STOLEN 4WD SPARKED 15 MINUTES OF CHAOS BEFORE A FATAL CRASH CLAIMED A YOUNG WOMAN’S LIFE.

Jake Edward Warn, 36, charged with manslaughter after woman, 25, killed in stolen car crash

A man has been charged after an alleged stolen Toyota Land Cruiser sparked 15 minutes of chaos across Cairns’ northern beaches, ending in a fatal crash that killed a 25-year-old Kewarra Beach woman and injured several others.

One woman was killed and four people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Smithfield Bypass in northern Cairns on Wednesday August 5. Picture: Facebook.

A man has been charged with manslaughter following a stolen car crash which ended the life of a 25-year-old Kewarra Beach woman on Wednesday.

It will be alleged Jake Edward Warn, 36, from Warrami near Tully stole a Toyota Landcruiser utility from Williams Esplanade at Palm Cove at 1.10pm on August 5 before causing chaos on Reservoir Road in Cairns.

At least five people were injured in the three-car pile-up on the Smithfield Bypass about 1.25pm.

Emergency crews and forensic investigators examined the scene, closing the road to traffic for several hours.

Far North District Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said Mr Warn was driving the allegedly stolen Toyota Land Cruiser south collided with two cars travelling in the opposite direction.

Three wrecked cars beside the Smithfield Bypass following a crash involving an alleged stolen car on Wednesday, August 5. Picture: Peter Carruthers

The 25-year-old woman, who was the sole occupant of a Toyota RAV4, died at the scene. Four other people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police allege shortly after the crash, Mr Warn entered a Toyota C-HR and forced the driver, a 71-year-old man, to drive him from the scene.

The 71-year-old man was not physically injured.

Mr Warn was charged with one count each of stealing of a vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle and adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, manslaughter, driver fail to remain at incident and render assistance showing callous disregard for the needs of a person injured, and unlawful entry of vehicle for committing indictable offence.

He was refused police bail and is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today, August 6.

Investigations are ongoing, and police are urging anyone with relevant information or vision to come forward.

Community in mourning

Cairns’ top cop has mourned the “devastating” loss of the young woman, who died after an allegedly stolen vehicle caused mayhem on the northern beaches on Wednesday afternoon.

Far North District Officer Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon speaks at a police conference after a 25-year-old Kewarra Beach woman was killed in a crash involving an allegedly stolen ute at Smithfield on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Picture: Samuel Davis

A visibly emotional Chief Supt Fitzgibbon said any loss of life as a result of crime was “not good enough”.

“A young woman going about her day-to-day activities who’s done absolutely nothing wrong has lost her life, you know, almost instantly through no fault of her own,” he said.

“I have two children that are not too far away from that age myself, and the thought of receiving that phone call or that knock on the door from the police is a devastating thought.”

It is understood the Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen from a Palm Cove address about 1.10pm on Wednesday, just 15 minutes before the fatal crash.

The Smithfield Bypass remains closed to all traffic following a serious traffic crash. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Police will allege that after the collision, the driver allegedly entered another vehicle, forcing its driver to flee the scene.

Queensland Police then launched a major operation involving general duties officers, the property crime unit, tactical crime unit, Polair, and the dog squad.

Mr Warn was taken into custody on Reservoir Rd at Manoora about 2.15pm.

He was later transported to Cairns Hospital in a serious condition, where he remains under police guard.

Police have urged anyone with information or footage to contact them.

The alleged driver of the stolen vehicle was taken into custody less than an hour later on Reservoir Road at Manoora.

Chief Supt Fitzgibbon praised passersby who stopped to offer assistance at the crash scene.

“I’m sure this will stick with them for a long time,” he said.

“It’s a little bit difficult to keep my emotions under control about how unhappy I am with this. We should all be very unhappy with it.

“There’s a very small percentage of our community that are inflicting this type of harm.

“99 per cent of people go about their day with no thought whatsoever of ever committing crime. Probably less than one per cent are causing these types of offences.”

The Smithfield Bypass remained closed for several hours to all traffic following a serious traffic crash. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Officers had struggled to come to terms with what they’d seen after attending the crash, Chief Supt Fitzgibbon said.

“One of them described it as a melancholy feeling,” he said.

“Today is among the very worst of things that we can see and deal with.”