The crash happened at the intersection with Ross Camp Road in South Isis, 57 kilometres south of Bundaberg, about 1pm.

An eight-year-old girl, who was a passenger in one of the cars, as well as the male driver and sole occupant of the other car were declared dead at the scene.

The Bundaberg and Sunshine Coast RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopters were sent to the scene and flew two patients, who were in the same car as the young girl, to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The Sunshine Coast helicopter airlifted a woman in a critical condition after she suffered upper limb and chest injuries. The Bundaberg helicopter airlifted another young girl who had also suffered upper limb injuries, but was in a stable condition.

The Bruce Highway remained closed at 6.30pm, but diversions were in place with only minor traffic delays in the area.

Forensic Crash Unit investigations were continuing.

The crash came as Brisbane motorists heading north and south for the weekend faced lengthy delays after three separate highway accidents about 2.30pm on Friday.

Police closed two southbound lanes of the Pacific Motorway after a motorcycle crash just north of the Smith Street Motorway exit at Arundel.

By mid-afternoon, traffic was crawling for 17 kilometres to Coomera and police advised motorists to take alternate routes.

Drivers heading north were also caught in slow-moving traffic stretching eight kilometres between Morayfield and Elimbah, after a truck and a car collided just after 2.30pm near Steve Irwin Way.

Queensland Ambulance Service said rescue efforts were being hampered by another “nose to tail” collision that occurred right behind the earlier accident.