Truck driver caught up in seven car pileup with military tanker on Bruce Highway reveals devastation of collision in Queensland

• Truck driver recalls horror crash
• Seven-car pileup included military tank 

A truck driver has recalled the horrifying moments he was involved in a major highway crash involving a military tanker. 

Michael Rowe was one of several people caught up in the explosive crash on the Bruce Highway at Bajool, in Queensland, at 11.25am on Wednesday.  

Six people were hospitalised and over a dozen emergency vehicles were required to combat flames in the seven car pile-up which involved a military tank on a semi-trailer.

A stretch of highway between Rockhampton and Gladstone was closed, causing major delays for vehicles.

One lane of the highway opened at 8.30am on Thursday morning under stop and go conditions – almost 24 hours after the catastrophic accident.

Mr Rowe, who survived the disastrous crash which blackened the multimillion-dollar army tank and destroyed several other vehicles, said he was lucky to be alive.

Mr Rowe said he had been travelling from Narangba to Gracemere when he was ‘caught up in the middle of wide loads’.

‘The pilots were letting people know to give them room because they’re so wide and all of a sudden, just braking, everyone was on the brakes heavy, and there were just trucks and whatnot flying everywhere and smashed up cars,’ Mr Rowe told the Courier Mail .

Mr Rowe said he was caught ‘right in the middle of it all’ but miraculously avoided getting hit.

‘I got out and rang the ambulance straight away and people were running around everywhere, a bit of madness,’ he said. 

‘There were a lot of explosions. I didn’t know, I thought they were tyres at first just from the fire, because there was a big fire and that tree went up in flames.’

Mr Rowe said it was ‘amazing’ that he managed escape the incident with no injuries. 

Former Big Brother winner Reggie Bird on Wednesday revealed she was stuck in her car for 12 hours after the crash.

‘Oh man what a mission,’ the Big Brother season three winner said in a video posted to Facebook.

She announced at 9pm on Wednesday that she had finally arrived at a camp stop near Hervey Bay after being on the road for 12 hours.

‘Was a long day,’ she said in a post.

‘But we are safe, had a couple of close calls ourselves.

‘Can’t stop thinking about the accident today.

‘My heart goes out to all involved.’

On Thursday, one person was reported to be in a stable condition in Rockhampton, while another was in a stable condition in Gladstone. 

The remaining people have reportedly been discharged from hospital.

According to police, officers arrived at the scene to find three vehicles on fire and another four extensively damaged, including B-double truck, a semi-trailer (carrying the military tank), a flat-bed truck carrying two caravans, three cars and a 4WD towing a caravan. 

It is understood the tank was to be involved in the largest Australia-US bilateral military training exercise, the 10th iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre, which runs from July 22 to August 4.

Police will investigate whether another driver failed to give way to the oversized truck carrying the tank, which was being driven by a civilian with the support of escorts.

Motorists are still being advised to expect long delays in the area and to put off travel if possible.