Courtney Rebecca Simmons crash charges mentioned in Mackay court

A fuming Mackay magistrate has refused to allow a months-long wait for a doctor to “sign a piece of paper” in the case against a woman charged over a critical crash which left a man fighting for his life in Townsville.

Lawyers for a woman charged with causing a crash that left a critically injured were slammed by the magistrate, who said delays for medical documents would no longer be tolerated.

A Queensland magistrate railed against lengthening delays for medical documentation in the case of a woman who allegedly caused a serious car crash.

Courtney Rebecca Simmons is charged with driving without due care and attention causing grievous bodily harm after she was involved in a collision on August 18, 2023 near Alligator Creek.

Three passengers were injured when a silver 1997 Toyota LandCruiser was sent flipping down an embankment, with a 29-year-old man flown to Townsville University Hospital with critical injuries.

Courtney Rebecca Simmons faced court for the first time after a crash on the Bruce Highway left a Sarina man with critical injuries. Photo: Zoe Devenport

She faced court for the first time in December 2023 when McKays Solicitors lawyer Robert Beamish requested an adjournment to 2024.

Mr Beamish asked on Tuesday for a further five months for disclosure, including two weeks to request medical records and 10 weeks to produce a doctor’s statement.

But magistrate Damien Dwyer responded that repeated delays for medical documentation in a range of matters was unacceptable and said he was “not sitting around waiting”.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer.

“This has been going on since December, I’m not going to give you five months for disclosure, it’s simply not going to happen,” Mr Dwyer said.

“I’ve told the doctors this over and over again, I’m not waiting around for five months for him to sign a piece of paper.”

Mr Dwyer told Mr Beamish that he was “fully expecting” Ms Simmons to plead not guilty and adjourned the matter for one week to March 19, where he would require Ms Simmons to appear in person.

He said should the medical documentation still not be available, he would “set it down for hearing in the dock so (the doctor) can come and give his evidence”.