Reece Stuart William Hogg in Rockhampton Magistrates Court charged with ramming police car at Rockyview

The officer behind the wheel of the police car rammed by a ute has been airlifted to Brisbane, while the alleged driver charged with stealing the vehicle appeared in court.

Two police officers were injured after their unmarked police vehicle crashed with an alleged stolen car in Rocky View on April 13.

A Rockhampton detective has described two officers hit by a grey LandCruiser ute with a bullbar towing an excavator and trailer allegedly stolen in Mackay as lucky to be alive.

Despite the good news, Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey said it would still be a long recovery for the two highway patrol officers seriously injured at Rockyview, just north of Rockhampton.

The 58-year-old male senior constable has been airlifted to Brisbane for a hip replacement after suffering serious hip injuries, and the other officer, a 55-year-old male sergeant, sustained a fractured vertebrae and kneecap.

The sergeant was in Rockhampton Hospital on Monday, April 14 in a stable condition.

The alleged driver of the ute, Mackay man Reece Stuart William Hogg, appeared briefly in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on a slew of charges, including stealing the vehicle, on Monday.

He did not apply for bail.

Two police officers were injured after their unmarked police vehicle crashed with an alleged stolen car in Rockyview on April 13.

The 23-year-old from the suburb of Bucasia was remanded in custody and had his matters adjourned to May 9.

He and his 22-year-old female passenger were both taken to Rockhampton Hospital in stable conditions following the incident.

Early investigations indicated just after 9pm Saturday a grey LandCruiser ute was allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into an unmarked police car on Wellington Court in Rockyview.

The grey ute was reportedly stolen from Sugarshed Rd in Glenella on April 11.

Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey.

Detective Acting Inspector Peachey said the vehicle was allegedly used to ram police officers who had been deployed.

“Two police officers have been seriously injured,” he said.

“They were hit by a stolen LandCruiser ute with a bullbar towing an excavator and trailer.

“The driver of the police vehicle has taken the full brunt of that on the driver’s side door.

“Both of those police officers were transported to Rockhampton Hospital with one of those officers then being transported to Brisbane.

“Both of those officers remain in hospital.”

Detective Acting Inspector Peachey said the officers involved in the crash were “lucky they both have their lives”.

“It’s going to be a long road to recovery,” he said.

“Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of those police officers and we wish them a speedy recovery.”

Detective Acting Inspector Peachey said the alleged driver of the ute had left the passenger and decamped from the vehicle but was found a short distance away and arrested.

“It is under investigation as to why this person has brought a stolen excavator and stolen vehicle to Rockhampton,” he said.

Two police officers were injured after their unmarked police vehicle crashed with an alleged stolen car in Rockyview on April 13.

Mr Hogg was charged with four counts of stealing, three counts of unlawful use of motor vehicle – use intended for indictable offence, two counts each of stealing of a vehicle, driving of motor vehicle without a driver’s licence disqualified by court order, using, or permitting use of, vehicle for which a number plate attached given granted for another vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death or grievous bodily harm, possessing dangerous drugs, receiving tainted property firearm/ammunition, and one count each of wilful damage, unlawful use of motor vehicle, enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, authority required to possess explosives, and fail to properly dispose of needle and syringe.

The 22-year-old Mackay woman was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on May 1.