Austin Martin Falzon jailed after dangerous drive on Nicklin Way, Bruce Highway

A father has been jailed after he dangerously drove on two of the two of the Sunshine Coast’s main roads, crashed into two trucks and then hid behind a pile of logs.

A Kenilworth father of two has been sentenced to jail after he went on a dangerous driving spree on the Sunshine Coast in March.

Austin Martin Falzon, 42, was driving southbound on Nicklin Way in Wurtulla on March 24, 2021, when he put his put down and told his passenger to “hang on”.

Falzon was given a direction by police to stop but failed to do so and proceeded to travel onto the Bruce Highway that was occupied by road workers.

Police prosecutor David Hoffman told the court on Thursday Falzon was driving at “dangerously” high speeds greater than 40km over the 80km an hour limit.

Falzon crashed into a B-double and then a roadworks vehicle consecutively.

The passenger of Falzon’s car told police he had not been in a vehicle travelling at that speed before.

Austin Falzon pleaded guilty to 10 charges in Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

“Road workers had to jump to safety over barriers, the entire roadworks site had to be shut down for a period of time which impacted other road users,” Senior Constable Hoffman said.

“The defendant has dumped his vehicle a short distance away and was only apprehended through police searching a large section of land where he was found hiding under a pile of logs.

“It was by sheer dumb luck that no one was seriously injured or killed.”

Falzon pleaded guilty to 10 charges in Maroochydore Magistrates Court including evasion, dangerous operation, excessive speeding, driving unlicensed, driving unregistered, driving uninsured and possession of a pipe.

Austin Falzon pleaded guilty to 10 charges in Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

The court heard Falzon is a father of two teenage daughters who he no longer sees after his 16-year relationship broke down.

He has worked as a tyre fitter and a swimming pool builder before spending 91 days in presentence custody.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said it was “remarkable” no one was hurt in the ordeal.

“Your own passenger was terrified of your driving,” Ms Benson said.

“There’s no explanation before me as to why you behaved in that way.”

Falzon received a head sentence of two years’ imprisonment and will be eligible for parole on November 25. He was disqualified from driving for six years.