A Brisbane man has been charged with manslaughter after an aged care nurse was killed while driving to work in a crash involving an allegedly stolen vehicle in Queensland.
Police allege the 31-year-old man from Ellen Grove stole a white Isuzu D-Max from a home in Morayfield in the early hours of Tuesday morning before driving it north towards Woodford.
Just after 6am, police allege the ute collided head-on with an orange Toyota Corolla being driven by 60-year-old Carron Scott, a registered nurse from Caboolture South.
Ms Scott, who was on her way to begin her shift at Woodford Manor, died at the scene.
The tragedy has devastated her family, friends and colleagues, with tributes continuing to pour in for the experienced nurse, who has been remembered as a deeply respected and much-loved member of the aged care community.
Police allege the driver of the ute fled the crash scene on foot before being located about two hours later at Woodford State School. The school was temporarily placed into lockdown as officers searched the grounds.
The man was arrested around 8:30am and has now been formally charged with manslaughter.
He has also been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, failing to remain at the scene of an incident, disqualified driving, drug driving, and two counts of trespass.
The accused is due to appear before Caboolture Magistrates Court.
Investigators from the Caboolture Criminal Investigation Branch continue to examine the circumstances leading up to the crash, including the movements of the allegedly stolen vehicle before the collision.
The death of Ms Scott has sent shockwaves through the local aged care sector, where colleagues say her compassion, professionalism and dedication to residents will not be forgotten.