Final moments before stolen car crash revealed at 14yo Bradley Smith death inquest

The final moments before a stolen car crashed and killed 14-year-old Bradley Smith and left a 12-year-old girl a quadriplegic have been detailed during an inquest into the teen’s death.

Bradley Smith., 14, was killed after an alleged stolen car slammed into a tree on Pease St, Manoora on February 14, 2022. Picture: Facebook

The final moments before a stolen car crashed and killed 14-year-old Bradley Smith and left a 12-year-old girl a quadriplegic have been detailed during an inquest into the teen’s death.

Bradley was killed in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2022 when the stolen car he was a passenger in left the road and crashed into a tree.

The final moments and movements of the stolen vehicle and the police attempting to intercept it have been revealed during the inquest into the young boy’s death.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Melia Benn, provided a timeline of the circumstances leading to the tragic accident.

Bradley Smith, 14, was killed after a stolen car slammed into a tree on Pease St, Manoora on February 14, 2022. Picture: Facebook

She told the court about 9pm on February 14, 2022, Bradley and another teen stole a white Toyota Yaris from a home in Manunda, with the owners unaware for a number of hours.

It was in the very early hours of Valentine’s Day when the vehicle first came to the attention of police.

“At 12.42am a sergeant logged into an Instagram account and watched a livestream video recording posted by a juvenile,” Ms Melia said.

The court was told the sergeant heard the names of young persons known to police for previous dealings stealing cars in the Cairns area and she believed the vehicle was being driven erratically towards the Cairns City area.

At 12.48am officers in an unmarked LandCruiser sight the Yaris and a job is logged with the registration number obtained and attempts made to contact the vehicle’s owner.

“A TCS officer called the district duty officer seeking approval of the tyre-deflation device,” she said.

Over the next ten minutes the car is spotted a number of times by officers in the unmarked vehicle and the vehicle is confirmed stolen.

At 12.59am the use of a tyre-deflation device is approved.

At 1.04am two general duties officers in a marked sedan drive past the Yaris, which is travelling in the opposite direction.

Scene of the fatal traffic crash at Manoora, where a stolen Toyota Yaris left Pease Street near the Saltwater Creek bridge and crashed into a tree. A 14-year-old boy was declared dead at the scene and five other children aged 12 to 15 were taken to Cairns Hospital with injuries. Floral tributes at the scene of the crash lay among broken car pieces and tree bark. Picture: Brendan Radke

They perform a U-turn and attempt to “keep eyes on” the vehicle.

Over the next four minutes the marked car follows the Yaris, with dashcam footage indicating the police “were travelling at excess of 100km/h”.

They reach a maximum speed of 129km/h in an 80km/h speed zone.

At 1.09am the stolen vehicle performs a U-turn and drives past the marked vehicle, with the occupants later advising in interviews, “They were sure they were being chased”.

Ms Benn said at 1.11am the passenger in the marked vehicle tells the driver to “back off” and he slows down.

At 1.12am the car turns onto Pease St and another officer, who is heard on the radio the first time, asks if it is, “Coming across Saltwater now?”.

An officer in the marked car responds, “Yeah, on top of you mate”, the court heard.

Moments later the officer makes an unsuccessful attempt to deploy a tyre-deflation device on the southern side of the Saltwater Creek Bridge.

Ms Benn said the stolen vehicle then follows a blue car across the bridge and attempts to overtake.

The crash scene after a stolen car crashed into a tree and killed a 14-year-old boy. Cairns. Picture: 9News Queensland

“However, the driver lost control, exited the roadway and hit a tree,” she said.

“Queensland Ambulance Service and fire department both attend soon after.”

Officer in charge of the Cairns Forensic Crash Unit Scott Ezard, said data showed the car crossed the bridge at between 101 and 108km/ph and ended in a broad side skid before striking the tree.

First aid is provided by officers at the scene but Bradley dies from his injuries shortly after the crash.

The court heard the passengers all knew they were being chased by police for ten minutes prior to the crash.

The inquest will continue into next week overseen by State Coroner Terry Ryan.

Originally published as Final moments before stolen car crash revealed at 14yo Bradley Smith death inquest