Courtney Rebecca Simmons reckless driving case delayed in Mackay court

A man critically injured in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway near Mackay is still in hospital months later as the driver responsible for his injuries awaits sentencing. LATEST.

A man critically injured in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway is still in hospital eight months later, a court has revealed.

Courtney Rebecca Simmons (nee Van Damme) was driving a Hyundai Palisade when she crashed into a Toyota LandCruiser at Alligator Creek south of Mackay just after 7am on August 18 last year.

The LandCruiser rolled multiple times down an embankment grievously harming a 29-year-old Sarina man.

Also in the four-wheel-drive were a 19-year-old man and a 45-year-old man, both from Sarina, who were taken to Mackay Base Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Simmons had in March pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road causing grievous bodily harm.

The Bruce Highway was shut in both directions near Alligator Creek south of Mackay after a horror crash. Picture: Contributed

Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday heard her 29-year-old victim was still an inpatient at Townsville Hospital’s brain clinic.

Police prosecutor Sheena Gravino applied for an extension to the case to receive his medical records.

Ms Gravino said records would determine what extent his initial injuries underpinned the grievous bodily harm component of the charge.

McKays Solicitors lawyer Robert Beamish made no objections stating they also wanted the records before Simmons was sentenced.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said both parties needed the documents for the “very serious matter” and set a due date for 4pm on May 7.