The father of a three-year-old boy who died in the foyer of a Queensland police station following a car crash will remain behind bars after being refused bail.

Samuel Ian Paterson, 24, was allegedly in the car with Caden Case, the toddler's mother and another child when it crashed near Stapylton on the Gold Coast.

Caden died after the white Mazda lost control and veered into bushland about 5am on Saturday.

Paterson was allegedly behind the wheel, with Caden's 22-year-old mother and a one-year-old child also passengers.

Paterson allegedly left the crash with the other child, sparking a large-scale search.

Police located the pair at a nearby Beenleigh townhouse complex.

Meanwhile, Caden – who was critically injured – and his mother were taken to Beenleigh Police Station by a passerby.

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