A man has been cornered in a stormwater drain after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a woman north of Brisbane.

The 72-year-old driver was killed on impact while her adult daughter was critically injured.

Police said a Holden Commodore utility collided with a Suzuki Swift just before 7am on Friday.

“I understand that the smaller car was turning left out of Oleander Street and the vehicle was proceeding eastbound on Anzac Avenue,” Inspector Craig White said.

The man was tracked by police dogs to the stormwater drain more than four kilometres from the accident and taken into custody.

Police investigations have established the ute was allegedly stolen days earlier from Stafford.

“It’s a terrible tragedy,” White said.

He refused to confirm reports the stolen car had been speeding before the fatal crash.

“At this stage, I’m not prepared to make those assumptions, those matters will be investigated,” he said.

“It’s been a tragic set of circumstances.”

White said it was a “terrible scene” for those who were first there.

“The deceased was given treatment in the car at the time and given CPR but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries,” he said.

He said officers did an “exceptional job” to track down the fleeing driver.

“They tracked him some four kilometres from the location of this scene, and he’s been taken into custody without any further injury,” he said.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage of the incident is urged to contact police.

-with AAP