Clinton Benjamin Leisha denied bail over Bouldercombe head-on crash charges

The man accused of causing a serious head-on crash in Rockhampton that has left a woman fighting for her life has an extensive traffic record, court documents have revealed. DETAILS

Generic image of Queensland Police Service’s Forensic Crash Unit vehicles.

The man accused of causing a serious head-on crash that has left a woman fighting for her life on Razorback Road has an extensive traffic record for disqualified driving and speeding, including one massive fine for going more than 40km/hr over the speed limit, court documents reveal.

Clinton Benjamin Leisha, 36, has been charged with six offences, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of driver failing to remain at scene and provide assistance and showing callous disregard for injured persons following the accident at Bouldercombe on Monday, February 19.

His seven charges were the subject of a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on February 21.

Court documents seen by The Morning Bulletin revealed more details about what police alleged happened Monday morning.

In an affidavit by a Forensic Crash Unit investigator, police allege Mr Leisha was “driving in an aggressive manner” prior to the crash, “swerving in and out from behind two vehicles with intent to overtake”.

The document stated Mr Leisha, driving a Nissan Navara, and the two vehicles he was wanting to overtake were travelling southbound on Razorback Road, while three other vehicles were travelling north, including the Mazda occupied by an elderly Mount Morgan couple.

The head-on took place along a straight section of the road leading into a blind right-hand bend with continuous double white lines and a speed limit of 80km/hr.

Police allege Mr Leisha started to overtake the two vehicles in front of him and the driver of the Mazda steered hard to the left, going off the road and onto a grass shoulder.

Mr Leisha is accused of steering to the right and head-on to the Mazda on the grass shoulder.

The driver of the Mazda, a 73-year-old Mount Morgan man, and the passenger, a 70-year-old Mount Morgan woman, suffered life-threatening injuries and were rushed to Rockhampton Hospital.

The male patient is now in a serious condition and the female patient remains in a critical condition, according to an update from the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service at 1.55pm on February 22.

Police alleged Mr Leisha was “observed assisting motorists to collect and place unknown personal belongings into a backpack before he fled the scene on foot towards Mount Morgan”.

Mr Leisha was located in Mount Morgan by police after a search.

“Police conducted a lawful search of the accused’s vehicle at the scene of the collision,” the affidavit stated.

“As a result, house breaking implements and ammunition were located along/inside the vehicle.”

Police objected to Mr Leisha’s bail application, saying he “has an extensive history of offences against the Bail Act, with a total of five breaches in the past four years”.

The affidavit also stated Mr Leisha had been convicted of entering premises with intent to commit and unlawful use of a motor vehicle while on bail in recent years.

His criminal record, attached to the affidavit, contained multiple convictions for entering premises, stealing, wilful damage, possessing drugs, along with convictions for assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance, possessing a weapon and trespass.

Police allege Mr Leisha posed an unacceptable high risk of reoffending if released on bail, particularly in vehicles as he has displayed “little regard for the justice system”, “demonstrates ignorant behaviour” and “nil signs of abating” from offending.

Mr Leisha’s bail application was reject.

He was remanded in custody, briefs of evidence was ordered and his charges adjourned to April 3.