Gold Coast’s Carson John French charged over Bundaberg crash

A man accused of causing a serious crash that has left a man in his 60s fighting for his life has been slapped with 13 charges and faces prison time if found guilty after two dangerous driving incidents in two days.

A crash on Rosedale Rd has left two men in hospital with one fighting for his life.

A man accused of causing a serious crash that has left a man in his 60s fighting for his life has been slapped with 13 charges and is facing prison time if found guilty, a court has heard.

Carson John French was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected after a serious two-vehicle crash on Rosedale Road, near Mattons Road, 22km north of Bundaberg, at 11.33am on December 30.

That charge and 12 others were before the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on December 31, 2024 when Mr French made a bail application.

Acting magistrate Stephen Byrne said the 13 charges relate to offences alleged to have occurred on December 29 and 30, including another dangerous operation of a motor vehicle offence from December 29.

“The first (dangerous operation charge) you forced the lady and passengers off the road and they had to crash into bushland,” Mr Byrne said.

“There’s no allegations of any injuries there, but it would have been terrifying.”

A crash on Rosedale Rd has left two men in hospital with one fighting for his life.

He said the second dangerous operation charge caused Mr French and another person injuries and Mr French would likely serve actual time in custody if found guilty of that offence.

Mr French was also charged with unlawful use of motor vehicles, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count each of possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug, possessing used drug utensils, unlawfully possessing a weapon, possessing a knife in a public place, stealing, enter premises with intent, possessing tainted property and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle.

Defence lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said Mr French resides at the Gold Coast and was on holiday at the time of the accident.

She said he had been in hospital earlier on December 31 and had a concussion.

“It is very difficult for him in terms of recalling any of the events that occurred or why,” Ms Ukpabi said.

She said he had no mental health issues or history of blacking out or any like offences on his criminal history, which was limited, and the last conviction recorded was seven years ago.

Ms Ukpabi proposed Mr French live in Highland Park with his parents if granted bail.

She said he returned a negative breath test result after the crash but made admissions to using illicit substances days prior.

Ms Ukpabi said he was willing to undergo drug and alcohol testing as part of bail conditions.

Mr Byrne said Mr French committed these offences while on bail and endangered the community.

He refused to grant bail and remanded Mr French in custody.

Briefs of evidence were ordered on some of the charges and they were adjourned to Bundaberg Magistrates Court on January 20.