Firefighters cut patients out of crash after parked police car hit at high speeds on M1

Four people, including two children and a police officer, have been taken to hospital after a ute hit a parked police car on the southbound side of the M1 motorway on the Gold Coast.

Emergency Services were called to the scene at 1.20pm Friday and two southbound lanes near Helensvale have been closed.

Firefighters used machinery to free a trapped 55-year-old senior constable from his highway patrol car as well as the 54-year-old female ute driver.

The officer was treated for chest and abdominal injuries.

A 9-year-old girl and one-year-old child — believed to be the ute driver's grandchildren — were also treated for face and leg injuries. 

A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said all four patients were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Acting Inspector Mitch Gray said the officer was stopped and monitoring traffic at the time of the crash.

He said the ute was believed to have been travelling at at least 110kph when the crash took place and the police car continued to roll another 100m down the road.

The speed limit on the M1 is 110kph.

"[The officer] has been communicating with us the whole time and we have spoken with his wife and family," Acting Inspector Gray said.

"He is in good spirits considering the significance of the injury and at this stage we expect him to make a full recovery over time.

"We'll rally around him and his family and we will certainly give him all the support he needs to get him back to work and some normality once he's recovered."

Acting Inspector Gray praised the efforts of an off-duty police officer and a truck driver who stopped to help.

The off-duty police officer pulled over after witnessing the crash and his car was hit from behind at low speed by the police car rolling forward from the initial impact.

Southbound traffic is still experiencing delays in the area and the Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.