Andre Roberts, 26, died after a head-on with an Isuzu truck that was being driven in the wrong direction on the Bruce Highway. (Supplied)

Andre Roberts, who died in a head-on crash on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary, has been remembered by his partner and friends as the “kindest bloke” with “the most contagious smile”.

The 26-year-old had been driving a Honda car when an Isuzu truck travelling southbound in the northbound lane of the highway at Burpengary crashed into it.

The crash occurred just after 10:30pm on Tuesday near the Deception Bay Rd exit, causing hours of traffic delays.

Mr Roberts’ partner and friends said he had been travelling on his way home from work when he was “taken way too soon”.

The crash occurred near the Deception Bay Rd exit on the Bruce Highway. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)

“Our boy Andre was the kindest bloke around, he just had the most contagious smile, and he brought so much light and joy into everyone around him,” they said in a statement to the ABC.

They said he had so much “potential” and he was “smashing” goals.

“Anyone who met him or talked to him just found this instant bond through his energy, he was loved so much by all his friends, family and colleagues,”

they said.

“He will be missed and loved dearly, and his legacy will never fade.”

Police say truck was stolen

The truck being driven the wrong way on the highway before the fatal crash had been stolen earlier this month, police have alleged.

The 46-year-old Redcliffe man who was driving the truck remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Detective Inspector David Harbison said the truck was stolen in Hemmant on February 9.

“It has been outstanding for some time,” he said.

“It is alleged prior to the incident, this truck and the driver of the truck was involved in some minor criminal activity involving the theft of some scrap.”

Dashcam footage shows truck on Bruce Highway before fatal crash (Supplied: Andrew Boston)

Police allege the truck hit a barrier around the weighbridge area in Burpengary before the crash, spilling what Inspector Harbison alleged was stolen property, “generally just junk” copper and other scrap metal.

Police had received reports a number of cars had been chasing the truck before the fatal crash.

Inspector Harbison said a number of vehicles were pursuing the truck, with all but one abandoning the chase before it reached the highway.

He said a Ford Ranger was located at a business on Magnesium Street, Narangba, about 5:30pm on Wednesday that was suspected of following the truck travelling in the wrong direction on the highway before the crash.

He said the Ranger had not followed the truck all the way to the crash.

A 26-year-old Redcliffe man died after the head-on crash. (Supplied: Sally Knight)

“The vehicle turned off some distance before the collision,” he said.

The car has been seized by police and is undergoing forensic examination.

A 42-year-old man was assisting police in their inquiries but has since been released.

Inspector Harbison said the man worked for a business allegedly targeted by theft.

He said police believed they had spoken to all those involved in the chase and no arrests had been made.

“We are not expecting any in the immediate future,” he said.

Inspector Harbison said a number of businesses in the Narangba area had been subject to property crimes in recent weeks.

He said there was no break-in on Tuesday night, however the truck was spotted circulating the area and information spread to various business owners.

“There was some information got out that there was a truck … which they thought was subject to some property crime in the area,” he said.

“So a number of persons in vehicles converged on that area.”

He stopped short of calling the act vigilantism and said the drivers were “concerned business holders looking after their properties”.

“My understanding is that a number of these businesses have been involved or have been subject to various property crimes in the last few weeks,” he said.

“Some of these people live on these premises, some of them obviously talk to each other.”

He urged people who were commenting on social media to come forward to police.

“If you have real evidence and dash cam [footage] please come forward, don’t just comment on Facebook and social media,” he said on Wednesday.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the Isuzu or other vehicles in the moments before the crash, and anyone who has relevant dash cam vision, to come forward.

Investigations are ongoing.

SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-19/car-suspected-of-following-truck-on-bruce-highway-found/106361554