Man charged with manslaughter over fatal crash in Cairns

Smithfield fatal crash accused Jake Edward Warn charged with manslaughter Thu 6 Aug 2026 at 10:54am In short: Police have laid charges against Jake Edward Warn after a fatal crash in Cairns on Wednesday. A 25-year-old woman from nearby Kewarra Beach died at the crash site. What's next? Mr Warn's case is expected in the Cairns Magistrates Court today. Queensland police have charged a 36-year-old man with multiple offences, including manslaughter, after a crash that killed a 25-year-old woman in northern Cairns. Jake Edward Warn, from Warrami, 125 kilometres south of Cairns, has been refused police bail and his case has been listed in the Cairns Magistrates Court today. Mr Warn allegedly stole a Toyota LandCruiser ute from Palm Cove shortly before 1:30pm yesterday while he was allegedly affected by an intoxicating substance. Police said he was driving south on the Smithfield Bypass when he crashed into a northbound Subaru Impreza and a Toyota Rav4, killing the sole occupant of the Rav4, a 25-year-old woman from nearby Kewarra Beach. "Police allege shortly after the crash, the 36-year-old man entered a Toyota C-HR and forced the driver, a 71-year-old man, to drive him from the scene," a Queensland Police Service (QPS) statement said. Less than an hour later, police arrested Mr Warn on Reservoir Rd in Manoora, on the western side of the city, and took him to Cairns Hospital. A further four people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the Smithfield crash. The 71-year-old man, who was allegedly forced to drive Mr Warn to Manoora, was not physically injured. Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch detectives laid five charges against Mr Warn this morning. The charges are one count each of manslaughter; failing to remain at an incident and render assistance showing callous disregard for the needs of a person injured; dangerous operation of a vehicle and being adversely affected by an intoxicating substance; unlawful entry of a vehicle for committing an indictable offence; and stealing a vehicle. "Investigations are ongoing, and police are urging anyone with relevant information or vision to come forward," the QPS statement said.