Curtis Dale Hayden pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing death
A 43-year-old man charged after gunshots were allegedly fired at a person in the South Burnett last week has now pleaded guilty over an unrelated crash which caused the death of a beloved father and grandfather.
Police & Courts
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A man charged after gun shots were allegedly fired at a person at Booie last week has admitted to causing the death of beloved South Burnett grandfather Ronald Wise in a car accident almost five years ago.
Curtis Dale Hayden, 43, pleaded guilty in Kingaroy District Court on Monday to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of Ronald Barry Wise, 76, in 2020.
Five days earlier, on February 12, 2025, he was remanded in custody in the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on charges of dangerous conduct with a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving tainted property and an offence related to unauthorised and prohibited explosives.
The district court heard that Mr Hayden pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ronald Barry Wise, a 76-year-old Wattlecamp man, in a two vehicle collision in December, 2020.
It heard that at about 4.40pm on December 18, 2020,Mr Wise was driving on Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road when Mr Hayden drove through the intersection at Redmans Road and collided with his car.
The vehicle crashed into a tree, and Mr Wise was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was remembered by his friends and family as a funny man, who worked hard, made rum filled fruitcakes and amazing homemade jams.
Mr Wise was survived by his wife, Julie, his sons, Mark, Anthony and Niel, and their families.
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Mr Hayden listened silently during Monday’s appearance, but become emotional as Judge Glen Cash ordered him to remain in custody until sentencing, wiping tears out of his eyes.
His mother was present in the courtroom and was allowed to speak to him for a short time before he was led back to into custody.
Mr Hayden will be sentenced in the Maroochydore District Court on May 6, 2025.
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