Police bust motorbike rider for high level speeding at Kuttabul

A young rider was busted ripping down the Bruce Highway at more than 50kmh the speed limit. This comes after it was revealed multiple fatal crashes in 2024 were linked to speed.

A black ute was allegedly seen speeding and dangerously overtaking over vehicles before causing a fatal crash on Hay Point Rd, Alligator Creek, that claimed the life of Ooralea father Nick Evangelista, 53, who had been driving home from work in his silver Kia. Images: 7News Mackay

A young rider has copped an immediate licence ban and been hit with a whopping fine after he was busted ripping down the Bruce Highway at more than 50kmh the speed limit.

This comes after this publication revealed multiple fatal crashes in 2024 were linked to speed.

Calen police were doing speed enforcement on the highway at Kuttabul on January 18 when about 4.50pm a Honda motorbike was checked travelling at 152kmh in a 100kmh zone.

Officers stopped the bike and spoke with the rider, a 20-year-old man, who was also travelling on a defective vehicle.

As a result he was handed fines totalling $2305 for high level speeding, failing to attach a registration plate to the rear of the bike and riding a defective vehicle.

He also lost eight demerit points and his licence was suspended for six months.

Police will continue to conduct speed enforcement patrols across the Mackay Whitsunday Police district at varied times and locations.

A black ute was allegedly seen speeding and dangerously overtaking over vehicles before causing a fatal crash on Hay Point Rd, Alligator Creek. Images: 7News Mackay

Motorists are urged to show respect to speed limits and other drivers who share the roads with them.

In 2024 there were 18 fatal crashes that claimed the lives for 24 people, with at least four linked to speed.

Earlier this month hardworking father Nick Evangelista was killed in a horror fatal crash on Hay Point Rd at Alligator Creek but an alleged speeding driver in a black Holden ute.

Ooralea father Nick Evangelista was tragically killed in a horror crash on Hay Point Rd, Alligator Creek on January 7, 2025.

Dashcam footage already circulating around appears to show the ute swerving between traffic including over double white lines before the crash occurred.

Police claim the ute veered onto the wrong side of the road before hitting Mr Evangelista’s silver Kia.

Mr Evangelista, who was initially trapped in the vehicle, suffered critical injuries died at the scene making it Mackay district’s first road fatality for 2025.