Toowoomba man jailed for killing mate in stolen crash refused to answer police probes

When a recidivist property offender killed an 18-year-old girl during a high-speed police pursuit through Toowoomba, a court heard the man was in possession of a second stolen car.

Recidivist Toowoomba property offender Kyaharlem Hazard has been remanded in custody since police charged him with manslaughter following a fatal car crash that claimed the life of his friend Heidi Riding, 18, in July 2023.

In the lead up to a fatal stolen car crash during a high-speed police pursuit through Toowoomba, a court heard the offender was in possession of a different stolen car.

The recidivist property offender, Kyaharlem Hazard, was sentenced in June to a seven-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a car causing Hidie Riding’s death.

Toowoomba District Court heard Kyaharlem Hazard, 19, drove at speeds exceeding 150km/h and ran red lights during the police pursuit late at night on July 13, 2023.

The 21-year-old had also pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a car at night in company, however the District Court did not hear any details regarding how or when the car was stolen.

Following the fatal crash in the early hours of July 14, 2023, the owner of the totalled Holden Commodore, Georgia McCoy, told The Toowoomba Chronicle her car was stolen on July 11.

She said she had left it on the side of a road in Harlaxton after running out of fuel.

Heidi Riding had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off her own back if someone needed it, her father said following her death in 2023.

Hazard was brought back before the Toowoomba Magistrates on Friday, July 11, for a remaining stolen vehicle charge.

The court heard Hazard unlawfully used the car between July 1, 2023, and the day of the fatal crash at the Hursley Road intersection in Newtown.

The car, a black Mazda CS-5, was stolen from a Darling Downs home in the early hours of the morning on July 2.

The court heard unknown offenders got the car keys after breaking into the home.

The car was located by police on July 13, who conducted forensic testing which located Hazards fingerprints on the outside of the driver’s door, and inside on the rearview mirror.

Crash photos: When sentenced for causing Ms Riding’s death, Judge Dennis Lynch KC told Hazard his crime was extremely serious and showed he had learnt nothing from his previous run-ins with police and the justice system.

When police attempted to interview Hazard, who was in custody following the crash, the court heard he refused to participate or answer their questions.

The court did not hear a submission from Hazard’s lawyer.

As the unlawful use charge predated Hazard’s higher court sentence, he was convicted and not further punished.

Hazard will be eligible to apply for parole on November 8, 2025.

Originally published as Toowoomba man jailed for killing mate in stolen crash refused to answer police probes