Timothy James Alexander Hoersch sentenced for Buderim crash

A motorbike rider’s femur was lodged into the bullbar of a father-of-two’s truck after a horrific crash on a busy Sunshine Coast road. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

A Sunshine Coast business owner was drink driving when he hit a motorbike rider and caused him “horrific” injuries on a busy Sunshine Coast road.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Timothy James Alexander Hoersch was drink driving with an incorrect driver’s license when he hit a motorcycle rider on Mons School Rd, Buderim at 4.30pm on November 23, 2021.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stevens said Hoersch had an alcohol reading of 0.061 when he turned right in front of the motorbike rider.

“The femur of the victim was detached and lodged in the bumper bar of … (Hoersch’s) vehicle – quite horrific injuries,” Sergeant Stevens said on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

The court heard the rider also suffered several broken bones including hip, ribs and wrist fractures and will need a second surgery to repair his badly broken leg.

Sergeant Stevens said Hoersch who had an automatic driver’s license was driving a manual truck at the time.

He suggested a four to six month prison sentence that could be suspended for 18 months as an appropriate punishment.

Sergeant Stevens said the victim told police he had no ill will towards Hoersch but asked him not to drink drive and stay alert while driving.

The French national who spent four months in hospital will need further rehabilitation when he undergoes the second surgery.

The Buderim man entered pleas of guilty to four charges including driving without due care and attention causing grievous bodily harm, driving over the general alcohol limit and learning to drive must be properly supervised.

The father-of-two had a traffic history with speeding and drink driving matters.

Timothy James Alexander Hoersch was drink driving with the incorrect driver’s license when he hit a motorcycle rider on Mons School Rd, Buderim at 4:30pm on November 23, 2021. Picture: Sunshine Coast Daily.

Barrister Kelvin Pearson said the concrete business owner – who employed 21 people – had limited visibility because of a “crest” in the road.

Mr Pearson said Hoersch was travelling slowly in first gear when the motorbike hit the right side of the car as he started to turn.

“There is certainly no evidence that anyone was hurrying or doing anything irrational,” he said.

“ … the motorbike came over the hill and there was a terrible accident.”

He said Hoersch had no third-party insurance at the time of the accident but had agreed to pay a price for the damaged bike.

Mr Pearson said Hoersch displayed genuine remorse through his early pleas of guilty, his co-operation with police and an apology letter.

He said character references painted the concrete business owner of 21 years as a good “corporate citizen”, father and friend.

The court heard Hoersch regularly saw a psychologist after becoming clean from drugs seven years ago.

Mr Pearson asked Magistrate Christopher Callaghan to suspend any prison sentence and impose a minimum disqualification period of six months.

Mr Callaghan sentenced Hoersch to a four-month suspended prison sentence for 18 months and disqualified him from driving for six months.

He took into account Hoersch’s personal and offending circumstances.

Mr Callaghan said it was a “lapse in judgment” for the man who was highly regarded by those who knew him.

The court heard Hoersch was not charged with driving unlicensed.