Mark Anthony Cruz sentenced for Bruce Highway motorbike crash

A man has been sentenced for a Bruce Highway motorbike crash which saw him suffer “extensive injuries.”

Mark Anthony Cruz was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 20.

A man has been sentenced for a Bruce Highway motorbike crash which saw him flown to Brisbane with “extensive injuries.”

Mark Anthony Cruz, 50, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 20 where he pleaded guilty to numerous offences including driving without due care and attention, evading police, and disqualified driving.

The court heard that on April 23, 2021, Cruz crashed his motorbike on the Bruce Highway at Isis Central in the Bundaberg region.

It was told that Cruz suffered “extensive injuries” and had to be flown to Brisbane.

Police checks revealed Cruz’s driver’s licence was disqualified by a court at the time.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said when Cruz was asked about the crash, he told police that he had fallen asleep and gone off the road.

Mark Anthony Cruz.

The court heard the evasion offence happened on December 5, 2022, about 12.13pm.

On that day, police were patrolling on Goondoon Street, Gladstone, when they saw Cruz riding a motorbike.

Police activated “lights and sirens” but Cruz accelerated away at speed.

The court heard that Cruz had a seven-page criminal history, which included drug offending, and a six-page traffic history.

It was told that he had spent 373 days in pre-sentence custody and he was eligible for parole on December 12 this year.

Solicitor Cassandra Ditchfield noted that some of Cruz’s offending had occurred while he was on suspended sentences.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Cruz to 232 days’ jail, declared 232 days pre-sentence custody as time served, and she fixed immediate parole.

The suspended sentences were activated to be served concurrently.

Cruz was also disqualified from driving for two years.