Man charged over 7/11 carjacking, horror assault

A man has been charged over a brazen carjacking attack on a nurse who had stopped at a service station on her way to night shift. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE

Kayla has spoken out about a terrifying carjacking at a Dinmore service station.

A man has been charged over a brazen carjacking attack on a nurse who had stopped at a service station on her way to night shift.

Collingwood Park mum of twins, Kayla, 33, was driving to work on May 5 when she stopped at the Dinmore 7/11.

As Kayla walked back to her car and unlocked it a man allegedly jumped in.

The man allegedly attacked Kayla as she tried to stop him. But he grabbed her keys and drove off in her white 2020 Mazda CX-5 station wagon while she still was clinging to the window.

She fell to the ground near the 7/11 exit, leaving her with gravel rash and a deep cut to her head.

A man on a motorbike who was at the service station and saw the incident meanwhile “buzzed’’ the carjacker before he reversed and took off at high speed on the wrong side of the Ipswich Mwy.

The motorcyclist tried to follow the car, but the carjacker got away.

Police found the burnt-out vehicle four days later, abandoned beside the Warrego Hwy at Marburg.

A 19-year-old Ipswich man has been charged with robbery with violence, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving unlicensed, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing.

He will appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on May 22.

Kayla’s head injuries from the incident.

Kayla said she suffered head injuries in the attack.

“I smashed my head on the concrete, so I had a massive haematoma (pooled blood), like eggs, on my head and a huge laceration. I had to have staples,” she said.

“I had gravel rash on my shoulder, all down my hip and bum.

“My head is probably the worst. I can’t even sleep on the back or side of my head, so it’s been pretty s****y and a constant headache.”

Kayla was left with gravel rash and a head injury, but was lucky it was not worse.

“The Ipswich City Council found some of my belongings in bushland that has cameras for illegal dumping.

“I just recovered two car seats and my Mazada logbook — no pram, no personal documents or my handbag.

“I’ve lost my wedding and engagement rings. I’ve lost every single personal document that had recently been JP certified.

“It’s just hard and expensive to replace.

“But it could have been so much worse if my kids were in the car.’’

CCTV captures Kayla’s 2020 Mazda CX-5 going up in flames beside the Warrego Hwy.

A GoFundMe was been set up for Kayla by one of her soccer teammates to help recoup the cost of items destroyed in the car, including an expensive pram.

“I was actually a bit (embarrassed) it (the GoFundMe) was created as I don’t feel like I should take money from people who work hard.

“I’m not poor, I work hard, I am a nurse (but) I don’t have any extra dollars sitting to pay the (car insurance) excess.

“It’s hard. I’ve got a family, a mortgage and kids.’’

Kayla said she was now scared as the carjacker might have her house keys and her address because of identity documents left in her car.

“After hours, I can’t even get out of my car without my partner coming out and turning the lights on, so I feel safe getting out of my car,’’ she said.

“The crime rate is just ridiculous in this area. We feel scared at the moment.

“They (alleged offenders) go to court and get a slap on the wrist, and then the victims are out there scared and having to relocate and reorganise their life.’’

Police are still trying to find the carjacker.

Detectives are appealing to witnesses, particularly anyone travelling westbound along the Warrego Hwy between Haigslea and Marburg from 8am-8.30am on Tuesday May 9, to come forward.

Anyone with information or relevant dashcam vision is also urged to contact police.