Hoons caught on camera, hotspots revealed in Maryborough, Hervey Bay

Hooning is ‘out of control’ in the Queensland region reeling from the death of a mother allegedly hit at high speed as residents demand action on drivers using roads like a racetrack. WORST STREETS REVEALED

Hoons are treating streets “like a racetrack” despite the tragic death of a beloved mum and businesswoman allegedly hit by an out-of-control, speeding driver.

The loss of Tash Raven, a 41-year-old nail salon owner and footy club volunteer who was walking home from a social event last weekend, not only sparked an outpouring of grief but also, passionate pleas for change.

Among the chorus is Leonard Camm of Maryborough who said hooning in his residential area was “like torture” for his family.

“We lived on a four-lane Hwy and Melbourne and it was nothing like this,” Mr Camm said.

Aside from smaller incidents caused by terrible traction on the road, he had reported about 33 “worst of the worst” hooning incidents near his home at the corner of Russell and Alice Streets in the past six months.

Examples of the hooning can be seen in the video above, none of which, however, relates to the death of Ms Raven.

The most serious incident was when a youth who stole his family’s 4WD crashed it through his neighbour’s fence at night.

Mr Camm “heard the noise” and thought his neighbour had hit something.

He walked outside and was shocked to find “a Ford Territory literally reversed into (his neighbour’s) fence”.

The outcome of the incident was the young driver was ordered to assist with the rebuilding of the fence.

“There needs to be harsher penalties,” Mr Camm said.

Security camera footage captures a hoon taking off at the corner of Russell and Alice Streets in Maryborough. The hooning was captured well before the death of Tash Raven but is among numerous examples residents are fed up with.

Police assisted “where they can”, but the hoons were often long gone “on foot” by the time officers responded.

“They just take off,” Mr Camm said.

“Police can only record the incident and just put it down on their map.”

It was so bad the family, when eating dinner outside “could taste burning rubber”.

Traffic calming devices like speed bumps or chances needed to be part of the solution, Mr Camm said.

Leonard Camm of Maryborough said hooning was so bad the family, when eating dinner outside, “could taste burning rubber”. Photo: Natal Jimma

“It’s just escalated out of control,” Mr Camm said.

Hundreds of residents answered a call from this publication on social media to outline streets known to locals as hooning hotspots.

Boundary Rd, where the fatal occurred was a common answer as was nearby Denmans Camp Rd and Moolyyir and Pulgul Streets in Urangan where recently installed roundabouts are visibly blackened by tyre rubber.

Tyre marks on the roundabout at the intersection of Moolyyir and Pulgul Streets Urangan.

One Urangan resident, who was too fearful of repercussions to be named, said hooning had been regularly going on in her neighbourhood for the past three weeks.

“It’s not just cars, there are bikes, makeshift mowers and go karts,” the resident said.

“We lay in bed at night for hours and it is not actual tyres squealing but engines revving.

“It’s drag racing and all in the vicinity where that poor girl was killed.”

Tributes left at the scene on Boundary Road where Hervey Bay mum Tash Raven was killed in an alleged hit and run.

“The neighbours are all very frustrated.”

The resident said neighbours had called the police but there seemed to be little action and feared there would be more tragedies.

“They will end up in a house for sure,” she said.

Another who also lives close by said Gilston Rd into Carrick Way became a “racetrack Saturday nights”.

While addressing the media over the death of Ms Raven, Acting Maryborough CIB Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Steven Watts was asked about what police were doing to crack down on hoons.

He urged anyone who knew the identity of a hoon or had footage to come forward as “driver safety is everyone’s business as well”.

“I understand the community concern about hooning,” he said

“(This kind of) driver behaviour is obviously concerning, and it is our top priority to address that.”