A truck has collided with a vehicle in a horror crash at a remote mine, killing a worker and seriously injuring another.
Operations have been suspended for 24 hours in the wake of the "unimaginable" tragedy at Peak Downs coal site in central Queensland.
Emergency crews rushed to the mine near Mackay, operated by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, after reports of a crash about 5am on Friday.
A worker died while another suffered "potentially life-threatening injuries" and was taken to Moranbah hospital, Queensland Ambulance Service said.
It is believed the two workers were in the vehicle that was struck by the truck.
A third person not involved in the crash suffered a medical episode while paramedics were responding and was flown to Mackay hospital, emergency services said.
Investigators travelled to the Bowen Basin site along with coal inspectors to work closely with emergency services as part of the incident response, Resources Health and Safety Queensland said.
"Preliminary information indicates two vehicles collided at the site early this morning,'' Resources Health and Safety Queensland boss Claire Cooper said in a statement.
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance suspended operations across all of its central Queensland mines for 24 hours in the wake of the tragedy.
The crash ceased work on five sites in total - Goonyella Riverside, Broadmeadow, Saraji and Caval Ridge along with Peak Downs.
"With deep sadness we confirm that a member of our team who worked for one of our contracting partners was fatally injured this morning at Peak Downs Mine in a vehicle-related incident," BHP Mitsubishi Alliance said in a statement.
"A second team member was injured."
The fatal collision would be felt across the entire resources sector, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance said.
"We are providing support to the families and loved ones involved," the statement said.
"BMA has ceased operations across all our sites for 24 hours to support authorities and enable our people to reflect and refocus on safe ways of working.
"We are working closely with emergency services and Resources Health and Safety Queensland."
The tragedy hit hard for Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie.
"My daughter goes fly in, fly out once a fortnight to work underground in a gold mine," he told reporters on Friday.
"It's one of the most risky jobs to have and it's just tragic when you hear circumstances like that - it's just unimaginable.
"Our thoughts and condolences are obviously with the family involved. I want to thank the first responders, all the mining workers you can't imagine to begin what they're going through."
Mining and Energy Union said its representatives had responded to the incident and were providing support.
"Our thoughts are with the worker's family, friends, workmates and the broader mine community at this incredibly difficult time," it said in a statement.
The Queensland Resources Sector also expressed its condolences, saying it was "deeply saddened" by the incident.
