Harness racing accident puts toddler in hospital

A two-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital after a freak accident at the Redcliffe Paceway north of Brisbane last night.

The girl's parents and her one-year-old sister were also injured when a metal boom gate at the start line of a harness race failed to retract and struck them.

Sergeant Greg Price said it was a very distressing scene for everyone involved.

"It was witnessed by numerous people here and they're all being dealt with," Sergeant Price said.

"It's a tragedy when you see the injuries to a young child, two-and-a-half years old.

The family from Kensington Grove in the Lockyer Valley remain in hospital this morning, with the two-year-old girl being treated for critical facial and abdominal injuries.

The race meet was immediately called off after the incident, just before the third race at about 7pm.

James Thompson from the Queensland Ambulance Service said two critical care paramedics and the high acuity response team were all at the scene.

"It was fairly chaotic at first but we soon managed the scene quite professionally," he said.

Sergeant Greg Price said those in the racing community were being offered counselling, as well as the driver involved in the malfunction.

"He's very stressed over the incident at the moment … he's being cared for by family members and also members of the racing community here," he said.

The Redcliffe Harness Racing Club posted to its page on Facebook saying: "Our thoughts and love [are] with those injured in the mobile incident."

"Thanks to everyone who helped so quickly," the post said.

Police said the track had been declared a crime scene with workplace health and safety officers also investigating.

by Brittney Kleyn

Reprinted with permission from ABC news