UPDATE: Bruce Highway reopened after horrific Cherwell fatal

UPDATE 1pm: Police and main roads workers are directing both north and south bound traffic on the Bruce Highway near Cherwell.

One lane has reopened on the stretch of highway near Nulla Flat Creek, more than seven hours after a fatal collision between an SUV and a B-double truck.

The 29-year-old female driver of the SUV died at the scene, and the 65-year-old male truck driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Work continues to clear the scene of diesel fuel which spilled from the B-double, leaving the road's surface dangerously slippery.

UPDATE 11.30am:  The Bruce Highway is expected to remain closed for several hours following a traffic crash north of Howard  this morning.

Northbound traffic is being diverted at Maryborough via Biggenden to Childers and southbound traffic is being diverted at Childers via Biggenden to Maryborough.

A detour for heavy vehicles is via the Wide Bay Highway, Burnett Highway, Isis Highway and Booyall-Dillarnil Road.

At around 4.40am, a 29-year-old woman died after the SUV she was travelling in collided head on with a truck on the Bruce Highway at Cherwell.

The 65-year-old male truck driver was taken to hospital for minor injuries.

The truck had been carrying canola oil, but was empty at the time of the crash.

Diesel fuel from the B-double was spilled across both lanes of the highway, which has since been covered with floor-sweep by the road crew.

Investigations are continuing.

UPDATE 8.50am: Police can confirm a 29-year-old woman has died on scene of a fatal crash involving a car and B-Double gas tanker about 15kms north of Howard. 

The woman was the sole occupant of the car.

The truck driver has been taken to hospital with minor injuries. 

The highway is expected to remain closed until midday due to diesel over the road. 

The crash happened around 5.40am.

The Bruce Highway is expected to be closed for several hours with diversions in place via Biggenden. 

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.  

UPDATE 8.30am: A truck driver has been taken to Maryborough Hospital with back pain after a fatal crash on the Bruce Highway near Pig Creek.

Traffic has been slowed north-bound from Nulla Flat Creek. 

A man who was near the scene said he believed the road would be blocked in both directions for about four hours.

7am: A WOMAN has been killed after a collision with a B-Double gas tanker on the Bruce Highway near Pig Creek, north of Howard. 

Both directions of the highway are closed and traffic is being diverted through Biggenden. 

Senior Constable Christopher Helsdon from Maryborough Police Station said the B-Double tanker was heading south on the Bruce Highway. 

The woman who has died was travelling north in an SUV. 

The crash happened just before 6am. 

Snr Const Helsdon said the B-Double gas tanker was empty at the time of the crash. 

It is unknown if the truck driver sustained any injuries.