Victim speaks out as Max Dawson avoids jail after fiery crash

A young man behind the wheel in a crash that left three people with severe injuries has learned his fate for the near-fatal collision.

District Court Max Dawson

A young man behind the wheel of a near-fatal crash in the Bundaberg region has faced his victim in court.

Max Lennart Dawson, 21, was driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit when he ploughed into a car driven by a man identified as Mr Brockhurst on April 21, 2022.

Supported by his wife, Mr and Mrs Brockhurst sat at the front of Bundaberg District Court, forced to relive in excruciating detail, the day that Max Dawson ploughed through a T-junction intersection on a rural road in the Bundaberg region.

During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution told Judge Michael Byrne Dawson, aged 18 at the time, was driving 120km/h in the 80km/h zone.

She said Mr Brockhurst was waiting at a T-intersection to turn right when he was hit by Dawson’s car.

The victim was partially flung through the rear side window of his utility vehicle, where he remained unconscious for a time.

Dawson and his passenger were also left injured in the crash.

The court heard Mr Brockhurst’s wife rushed to the scene desperately searching for the father of her three children, and found him covered in blood, wandering around dazed and confused amid the chaos.

All three people involved in the crash were eventually flown to hospitals in Brisbane with serious injuries.

The court heard Mr Brockhurst suffered a partially torn off right ear, a deep cut that exposed his skull, fractured ribs, a bruised lung, and significant internal injuries.

Dawson suffered a spinal fracture and perforated intestine, and his passenger suffered a collapsed lung, spine and hip fractures, and a bruised lung.

Max Dawson leaving District Court supported by family.

The court heard Dawson was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm or death.

During the hearing, the prosecution raised Dawson’s previous speeding matters.

On September 18, 2021, seven months prior to the fiery crash, Dawson was stopped by police for driving more than 20km over the speed limit.

Seven months earlier, he was caught driving 13km/h over the speed limit.

Judge Byrnes’ noted, both incidents should have been opportunities for the 21-year-old to learn and reflect, yet he did not.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the father-of-three described the dry and clear April day as “the scariest” of his life, while the days since have remained challenging both mentally and physically.

Members of the Dawson family broke down as Judge Byrne handed down his verdict, a decision he deliberated on for more than 30 minutes.

Dawson pleaded guilty to his charge, and was sentenced Dawson to three years in jail, to be wholly suspended, with an operational period of four years.

Dawson’s licence was also suspended for two-and-a-half years, a sentence Judge Byrne considered in respect to the young man’s family, whom he will be dependent on for transportation for this time.

Outside the court Mr and Mrs Brockhurst voiced outrage at what they viewed as a lenient sentence.

Mr Brockhurst asserted Dawson “showed zero remorse”.

The couple also claimed they only received a court-mandated apology from Dawson the night before his sentencing.

Police urge Queenslanders' to drive responsibly after a staggering 259 adults and children have lost their lives on roads this year.