Rider busted with gun and cash after prang and attempted car rip-off

A man who broke his leg after crashing into a car while on the run from police with a backpack full of cash and a gun then attempted to steal the damaged vehicle before being arrested, police allege.

Police have charged a 44-year-old Edge Hill man after the alleged offender crashed a motorcycle and attempted to carjack a vehicle in attempts to evade police. Picture: Phil Moody

A man who broke his leg after crashing into a car on Mulgrave Rd while running from police with a backpack full of cash and a gun then attempted to steal the damaged vehicle before at last being arrested, police allege.

Police allege at around 9pm on Thursday Cairns Highway Patrol officers observed a motorcycle rider who appeared to have stalled his red Ducati on McCoombe Street at the intersection of Mulgrave Road.

Police talk to bystanders on Mulgrave Rd after the incident. Picture: Phil Moody

Officers made attempts to pull the rider over when he managed to start the bike before taking off south down Mulgrave Rd.

The rider then did a U-turn, police allege and headed into the city on Mulgrave Rd before running a red light and crashing into a grey sedan.

Seriously injured with a suspected broken leg, police allege the man then attempted to steal the damaged Mazda 3 he had just crashed into.

The damaged Mazda 3 on Brown St. Picture: Phil Moody

Police allege the Edge Hill man then tried to hide a backpack in a nearby garden bed which was later found to contain a large quantity of cash and a loaded handgun.

The latest firearms related arrest is the third in the past 12 days and follows the unrelated seizure of a huge cache of high powered rifles and illicit drugs on February 2 at Holloways Beach and the arrest of a man in possession of a handgun on drug-trafficking charges outside Earlville shopping centre on Thursday.

The red Ducati ran a red light at the corner of Brown St and Mulgrave Rd. Picture: Phil Moody

The driver of the sedan, a 52-year-old Cairns man sustained minor injuries and was taken to Cairns Hospital.

The motorcyclist was arrested at the scene and transported to Cairns Hospital for treatment.

He was charged with one count each of unlawful entry of a vehicle for committing an indictable offence, unlawful possession of weapon category H weapon, possess dangerous drugs and no authority to possess explosives (ammunition).

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court at a later date.

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Originally published as Rider busted with gun and cash after prang and attempted car rip-off