Burnouts mark site of critical accident
Police look at reports of hooning
THE telltale signs of hooning mark the road leading to the location of a horrific crash on the Gold Coast that left a teen girl critically injured.
The crash was in the same spot where a motorcyclist was found dead six years ago.
Queensland Police raced to Burnside Rd at Ormeau about 1.15am on Sunday after a number of vehicles were reported to be hooning in the area.
Officers tried to intercept one car but it sped away and made it out of sight before it was found by police a short time later, with a second vehicle, crashed into a creek bed.
Five were injured, including a 16-year-old Warwick girl who suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Four other occupants in the cars, including two male drivers of an undisclosed age, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
Burnout marks were visible along the road on Sunday.
Investigations were ongoing on Sunday and the Queensland Police Ethical Standards Command was overseeing the matter.
Tyre tracks could be seen trailing into the creek bed — next to a tree peppered with written tributes to Gilberton motorcyclist Luke Brehmer — after Sunday’s crash. Mr Brehmer was found at the same spot on January 25, 2014.
The 45-year-old, described at the time as a “bloody champion” by one mate, failed to negotiate the bend.
Speaking on the Coast, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government was acting on hooning.
“These incidents are absolutely tragic,” she said. “We will be targeting the owners of (hooning) vehicles, so we will take those extra tough measures.”
Gold
Coast district
Chief
Superintendent Mark Wheeler warned motorists must consider their own behaviour behind the wheel.
Seven young people have died on Coast roads since late
July in crashes believed to have been influenced by driver behaviour or inexperience.
“There’s been significant loss of life in a number of crashes over the last few months and they’re still under investigation,” Supt Wheeler said. “The one from (Sunday) night, we’re investigating speed and driver behaviour.
“The message is: don’t speed and don’t drive in this manner. We often see young people who are full of bravado … and are simply not equipped to drive in that manner. They’re inexperienced and if something goes wrong they (can’t) respond appropriately.”
Supt Wheeler suggested the teen girl may not have been wearing a seatbelt, but that was yet to be determined.
The girl remained in a critical condition. No one had been arrested or charged by Sunday afternoon.
WE’RE INVESTIGATING SPEED AND DRIVER BEHAVIOUR. THE MESSAGE: DON’T SPEED AND DON’T DRIVE IN THIS MANNER.
SUPERINTENDENT MARK WHEELER