Cab driver carjacked

Teen girls allegedly part of attack

A CAIRNS taxi operator has survived a terrifying ordeal after allegedly being carjacked by two girls who held a knife to his throat and ordered the driver from the vehicle.

Police have alleged at 6.15pm on Tuesday, Wayne Stuart Chevathen and two girls flagged down a taxi at the Barron River Esplanade, Machans Beach.

The trio allegedly got into the taxi before the two girls each pulled a knife and forced the driver from the cab.

Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said the three offenders then drove away in the taxi.

Later that night, in Atherton, two girls surrendered themselves to police and were taken into custody.

“(A 17-year-old girl) has been charged with (the) offence of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. And a 14-yearold girl has been charged with one count of unlawful use of motor vehicle and a robbery whilst armed in company,” he said.

That same night, members of the public reported the allegedly stolen taxi at the Riverstone Road roadworks in Gordonvale.

Det Insp Goan said the taxi was seen to travel through a roadworks site after failing to stop when directed.

Stopping to change a flat tyre at Hoare Lane, it’s alleged Mr Chevathen swung a tyre iron at one officer before running from police.

“Police were required to use a taser to neutralise the threat that was being presented to them. That was successful,” he said.

Inspector Goan said the alleged carjacking was an “appalling act”.

“(The driver was) going about their lawful business. Their livelihood is taken from them and it’s taken from them at knifepoint.

“The victim in this instance, would have been obviously traumatised by these events,” he said.

Cairns Taxis fleet service manager Chris Balsom said the Machans Beach incident was concerning evidence of escalating abuse and violence directed at drivers.

“We have seen an increase in unseemly behaviour in relation to how people are treating drivers,” he said.

Mr Chevathen has been charged with a string of offences, including robbery whilst armed and in company and three counts of serious assault police officer whilst armed with a weapon.