Tinana community mourns 10-year-old Arliyah and stepmother Lisa after car plunges into dam near Maryborough

A tight-knit community is mourning a woman and a 10-year-old girl killed after their car crashed into a dam during the afternoon school run.

Arliyah, 10, and her stepmother, Lisa, 36, were travelling along McDonald Rd at Tinana South, near Maryborough , on Thursday afternoon when their blue Subaru Tribeca left the road, crashed through a fence and plunged into a dam on a neighbouring property, just a few hundred metres from where they had set off.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tinana dam crash claims lives of woman and 10-year-old girl

Queensland Police said the woman had been driving into Maryborough to collect other children from school when the crash happened.

The car was not found for several hours, until the owner of the property discovered it submerged upside down and rushed into the water in a desperate attempt to save them.

The woman’s partner became concerned after the school contacted him because the children had not been picked up.

Police said the 36-year-old woman and the girl were pulled from the vehicle, but efforts to revive them were unsuccessful.

Arliyah’s relative, Summah Brakenridge, said the young girl would be remembered for her infectious personality.

“She was full of life, she was the most beautiful big smile, full of energy,” Brakenridge said.

“Just an absolutely down-to-earth, beautiful little girl. That will never be forgotten.”

Arliyah’s father told 7NEWS the pair were deeply loved and would be terribly missed.

Maryborough Patrol Group Inspector Paul Algie described the deaths as a “horrible tragedy”, saying the close-knit community had been left shaken.

“Police that attended were very upset because conducting first aid on somebody that’s just been pulled from a dam is horrific. It is frightening and it’s emotive, particularly when members of that person’s extended family are present.”

Algie praised the neighbour who rushed into the dam in an attempt to rescue the pair.