Friends and family have gathered outside the northern Brisbane apartment of a man killed when his car was hit head-on by a stolen four-wheel drive travelling on the wrong side of the road.

Key points: One person died in each of the two cars that collided head-on

One person died in each of the two cars that collided head-on Shahid Islam was killed when his car was hit by the stolen 4WD

Shahid Islam was killed when his car was hit by the stolen 4WD Police say the driver of the stolen car spat blood at officers at the scene

Two people died in the crash on Tuesday night and paramedics who witnessed it narrowly avoided being caught up in the collision, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) says.

The driver of the stolen car is under police guard in a Brisbane hospital, arrested shortly after he ploughed into a Mazda hatchback driven by Shahid Islam.

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said a person from each car was found dead at the scene.

Another person was also taken to hospital.

Mr Islam's friend and former neighbour, Maxi Haque, said he was still coming to terms with the news.

He broke down in tears as he spoke about his friend outside the family's Windsor apartment.

"He was a very humble and polite person [who] loved sport — just a genuine typical Australian guy," Mr Haque said.

He said Mr Islam, his wife and their four-year-old son were preparing to move to their new home.

"They're devastated, they're struggling — I don't think the little boy realises what he's lost," he said.

Shahid Islam was killed when his car was hit head-on by a stolen four-wheel drive. ( Facebook )

Police said the stolen car was travelling on the wrong side of a section of Gympie Road at Bald Hills.

According to police the driver spat blood at officers when they tried to arrest him after the crash.

The stolen vehicle, a Mitsubishi four-wheel drive with three people inside, had been seen by police on Lutwyche Road at Windsor at 11:50pm.

Officers had tried to pull over four-wheel drive further north on Gympie Road at Kedron but it sped off.

Police said officers had not given chase but the stolen vehicle was spotted again just before midnight.

Inspector Adam Muir said the four-wheel drive was driving north on Gympie Road's southbound lanes.

"That vehicle has collided with another vehicle that was heading south on that side of the road, so it's been a tragic set of circumstances where unfortunately a number of people have now lost their lives," Inspector Muir said.

"We're going to continue the investigation and see if any of the occupants of the vehicle heading north had any illicit substances on board as we usually do."

'A very traumatic scene'

QAS paramedic Matthew Meister, who was called to the scene, said the two survivors had to be cut out of the mangled wreck of the four-wheel drive, while the driver of the other car, 36, died while trapped inside.

A 32-year-old male passenger of the four-wheel drive also died at the scene.

Police Inspector Adam Muir said officers had attempted to intercept the stolen car, but it sped off. ( ABC News )

"When we arrived on scene, we found a very traumatic scene that played out in front of us," Mr Meister said.

"One of our other crews was on their way to hospital with another patient at the time and they actually witnessed it first-hand unfold in front of them."

Mr Meister said the QAS crew was driving about 100 metres behind the Mazda when the stolen vehicle crashed head-on into the car.

"They were able to provide immediate care in truly, really difficult, circumstances, just having witnessed that," Mr Meister said.

"They [QAS crew] could have been involved [in the crash] — yes that's certain — so we're very lucky not more people were injured or hurt."

He said the driver and the other passenger of the car that was reported as stolen could also have died in the crash.

"The two who survived are very lucky to be alive," Mr Meister said.

The man, 28, who was allegedly driving the stolen four-wheel drive is in the Princess Alexandra Hospital under police guard.

A woman, 32, who was in the stolen car is in a critical condition in hospital.

Police said the car had been reported stolen from Toowoomba two days earlier.