Man charged over fatal crash, carjackings on Bruce Highway

A 41-year-old Tewantin man has been charged after a fatal crash and alleged carjacking on the Bruce Highway on the Sunshine Coast on Monday afternoon.

Police said the woman killed in the six-vehicle crash at Palmview was a 22-year-old Upper Mount Gravatt woman.

She was travelling as a passenger in a Nissan Micra struck by a red Porsche Macan on the highway back to Brisbane in heavy Easter Monday traffic.

The crash closed southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway for hours.Credit: Nine

Police said the driver of the Porsche Macan, Tewantin man Bradley Donald Towle, was the registered owner of the vehicle.

The man driving the Micra, a 22-year-old man from Strathpine, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police alleged Towle left the crashed Porsche armed with a gun and stole a white SsangYong Rexton, after shooting its driver in the arm.

The wreckage of the SsangYong Rexton at Landsborough.Credit: DM Mechanical

They said he drove away in the SsangYong, which was later found overturned on Steve Irwin Way in Landsborough.

Towle was alleged to have then stolen another vehicle – a grey Mazda 3 being driven by a 16-year-old girl – before being arrested nearby.

Police inspecting the car after his arrest allegedly found a firearm in the vehicle.

The teenager and her parents had run from the car during the alleged theft and were not injured.

On Tuesday morning, Towle remained under police guard at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, having suffered injuries to his head and body.

He has been charged with 15 offences, including armed robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, and drugs and explosives charges.

Towle’s case was mentioned briefly in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday, with Towle set to be moved from the hospital to a police watchhouse.

with AAP

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