Thieves and hoons ‘threatening lives’

TOWNSVILLE’S top cop has lashed out at crooks risking innocent lives in the wake of three crashes involving stolen cars in the past week.

Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge said he was in fear every day that the actions of car thieves would one day cost an innocent person their life.

The latest of three stolen car crashes was on Christmas Day when a stolen vehicle smashed into a police car, resulting in two officers being hospitalised.

Police were rushing to a medical emergency with their flashing lights and sirens on when the stolen car sped through a red light at the intersection of Hervey Range Rd and Thuringowa Drive and hit their car about 9.30pm.

The two male officers were not seriously hurt.

The crash came after a man allegedly rammed a police vehicle near Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on Christmas Eve and three seniors were seriously injured when they were run off the road by a stolen car near the Frosty Mango rest stop north of Townsville on Friday, Demember 22.

An Aitkenvale man, 22, has been charged over the Christmas Eve incident.

Supt Guteridge said it was only a matter of time before someone was killed in a crash involving a stolen car.

“We’ve recently seen a series of incidents that clearly show the contempt with which these people treat society, including police,” he said.

“The other day three lawabiding citizens were minding their own business driving down the highway and blatant law breakers, through their selfishness, stupidity and lack of consideration, resulted in serious injuries being inflicted on these people.

“Apart from the disgraceful nature and conduct of these people, they are gutless cowards who chose in both instances to flee the scene of these offences.”

Supt Guteridge, pictured, said the two officers from Monday’s crash would not be returning to work immediately.

The three people injured in Friday’s crash remain in hospital in a stable condition.

“The irony of this is that it is constantly the offenders who manage to get away unscathed while seriously risking the lives of other innocent people,” Supt Guteridge said.

“We are incredibly lucky that no one has been killed in these incidents and every day I fear that will be a consequence of these actions.”