DRIVER ARRESTED OVER HIT-AND-RUN AS FAMILY MARKS ONE YEAR ON
Public aid leads to vehicle ID
POLICE say a range of “overt and covert” strategies were used to track down the alleged offender accused of leaving a man for dead on the side of a Mossman road.
The family of Trinity Beach man Scott “Moses” Bradley said news that someone had been charged over the alleged hit-and-run last year was a positive step as they prepared to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.
Mr Bradley had been walking home after celebrating his birthday at a Mossman pub on September 3 last year.
It is alleged he may have been lying on the road when he was struck by the vehicle, which failed to remain at the scene and his body was found by a passing motorist on Junction Rd later that morning.
“A lot of people will be relieved that they’ve charged somebody,” mother Janice Bradley said. “But it doesn’t change the outcome, we still don’t have Scott.”
Cairns Forensic Crash Unit Sgt Scott Ezard said public assistance helped to track down the car allegedly involved.
He revealed the vehicle was located and seized in Gin Gin earlier this year before being taken to a police holding yard in nearby Bundaberg, where it was forensically examined.
“DNA was found on the undercarriage which belonged to the victim,” Sgt Ezard said.
“There is no doubt without assistance from the public we wouldn’t have been able to identify the vehicle allegedly involved and a suspect.”
He said police then used “covert techniques” to identify the man who was allegedly driving at the time of the crash.
The 46-year-old from Gladstone was taken into custody on Tuesday and has been charged with driving without due care and attention, callous disregard and driving under the influence of liquor or drugs. He is due to face court in Gladstone on September 4.
Mrs Bradley said her closeknit family continued to struggle with her son’s death.
“And it’s getting close to the anniversary so it’s all coming back,” she said.
“We have good days and bad days.”