Mount Pleasant, Farleigh crashes: 19-year-old faces Mackay court on ten charges
The young man at the centre of two shocking highway crashes allegedly went on an crime spree beginning in October, a court heard. Here’s what is alleged to have happened.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The brutal highway crash that left a 75-year-old woman fighting for her life allegedly followed a shocking month-long crime spree, a court heard.
The teen at the centre of Sunday’s Mount Pleasant and Farleigh crashes fronted Mackay Magistrates Court where police alleged he committed multiple acts of break and enter and theft beginning in late October.
Lazarus Paul Seden is alleged to have entered five homes from October 18 to November 20, stealing car keys and driving vehicles unlawfully across the Mackay region.
It is also alleged he stole fuel from petrol stations at Paget and Rural View.
Police allege on November 20 Mr Seden entered a home at Andergrove and unlawfully used a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.
That same day, he allegedly struck a vehicle driven by Wendy Robyn Kruske, 75, in Mount Pleasant, causing life threatening injuries and then left the scene.
It is understood Mrs Kruske is in a critical condition and remains at Mackay Base Hospital.
Mr Seden is charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and leaving the scene without obtaining help.
It is also alleged Mr Seden entered a home in West Mackay on November 20, where he stole vehicle keys.
He has also been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in Farleigh and refusing a police direction to stop the car.
Defence solicitor David Epstein said his client had a return-to-prison warrant out on him and would not seek bail.
Magistrate Damien Dwyer ordered the prosecution’s brief of evidence for the grievous bodily harm charge to be made available by January 13, 2023.
He adjourned the matter for committal mention of February 15, 2023.
Mr Seden has been remanded in custody.
Charges are laid
A 19-year-old man will face Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday following two highway crashes that rocked the Mackay region over the weekend.
The police have charged the Mackay man with ten offences following investigations into the crashes at Mount Pleasant and Farleigh on November 20.
The police have charged him with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and leaving the scene without obtaining help (from Mount Pleasant), dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (from Farleigh), evading police, entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break, as well as two counts each of entering premises and commit, the unlawful use of a motor vehicle and disqualified and unlicensed driving.
The man was taken into police custody on Sunday.
The Sunday crashes
Early Sunday morning, he was allegedly involved in a serious crash at Mount Pleasant that left a 75-year-old woman fighting for her life.
The crash occurred just before 6.30am at the Bruce Highway and Sams Rd intersection.
It is alleged the man left the scene.
A 75-year-old Blacks Beach woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
It is understood officers spotted the driver later in the day and a police pursuit involving more than one vehicle entailed on the Bruce Highway.
Initial investigations indicate motorists called police to the highway because of alleged dangerous driving of a stolen red Isuzu MU-X 4WD at around 1.20pm
At 1.59pm the vehicle overtook a marked police car headed south on the Bruce Highway.
It is alleged the driver was reportedly travelling in a manner deemed “quite reckless” at speeds up to 140kmh on the highway at Farleigh.
Officers activated lights and sirens, but the stolen red Isuzu allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit commenced.
About 2pm the Isuzu was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle travelling north on the highway.
The occupants of the other vehicle, a 70-year-old man and 68-year-old woman, were taken to Mackay Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The sole occupant of the Isuzu was arrested at the scene.
He was taken to hospital as a precaution.
As a result the Bruce Highway was closed in both directions for some time.
Police, the forensic crash unit, firefighters, paramedics and ergon energy crews were on scene.
Man charged over fatal crash that killed ‘friend of 40 years’
A man who allegedly crashed into his friend of 40 years in a fatal hit-and-run told police he “didn’t realise he’d hit someone”.
Read more
‘Cut his hands off’: Grandma’s fury as hero mums track down alleged car thief
Two mums tracked down the home of an alleged teenage car thief after their family trip turned into a nightmare. Their belongings, including baby seats and a kids’ rocking horse, were found dumped. SEE THE CCTV
Read more